Category Archives: 1930s

Babette “Betty” Stone Parker ’37

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Parker, Babette “Betty” (Stone), 93, of Westwood a longtime former resident of Wellesley Hills and Osterville passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at home.

Born in Attleboro, MA on July  25, 1919, the daughter of the late Samuel Stone and Tilda (Baer); she was the devoted wife of Dr. Jack Parker of Westwood for 68 years; the loving mother of Jack Parker Jr. of San Diego, CA and Diane and her husband Gregory Peters of Shelburne, VT; cherished grandmother of Tracey Grady and her husband Vaughn Collins of Seattle, WA, Raine and her husband Tony Pushckor of Maui, HI, Faith and her husband John James of Shelburne, VT and Andrew Peters of NY, NY; great-grandmother of Christopher, Justin, Dillon, Sky, Addison and Hadleigh; the dear sister of the late Samuel Stone Jr., Stephanie Baker and Harriet O’Keeffe and aunt to 6 nieces and nephews. Continue reading →

Posted in: 1930s

John Reed ’33, Former Trustee

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John Reed enjoyed a successful career that has spanned 75 years, many of these years as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mestek, Inc. in Westfield, Mass., which consists of more than 30 operating companies involved in the HVAC, Metal Forming & Fabricating and Coiled Metal Processing Industries.

John began his career with the H. B. Smith Company after graduating from Williston Academy in 1933 and Yale University in 1937. At Williston, John was a member of the Cum Laude Society and was involved with The Willistonian and glee club. He played basketball, squash, and tennis.

While working for H.B Smith Co., John earned his law degree in 1942 from the School of Law at Northeastern University, attending class at night. By 1946, he had advanced to the position of national sales manager for Smith, at which time his entrepreneurial spirit was manifested when he started the Sterling Radiator Company. Sterling Radiator continued to grow during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, both internally and through the careful acquisition of other companies, such as those dealing with climate control, the Peterson Roll Feed Co., and the Cooper-Weymouth press feed company.

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Posted in: 1930s

Robert O. Branch ’39

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Robert O. Branch Jr., 92, formerly of Pepperbox Road and currently of Beechwood Drive, died Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at his residence.

Mr. Branch was born on Sept. 28, 1920, in Willimantic, the son of Robert O. Branch Sr. and Ruth (Talcott) Branch. Some of his favorite stories were of his boyhood memories sailing his canoe on Hall’s pond, sledding down Lewiston Avenue, spending summers at the church camp his family helped build, and playing the saxophone in clubs beginning at age 14.

Bob attended Williston Academy and Union College, and served in the U.S. Air Force in Paris during World War II. After the war, he worked at the Howard Johnson’s restaurant on Bank Street in New London, which he managed until retirement 36 years later. Continue reading →

Posted in: 1930s

Barbara Lehman Strom ’39

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Strom, Barbara Lehman age 91, of Edina died on January 15, 2013 while a resident at The Colony in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Dr. Gordon W. Strom. They met in Rochester, MN. when Gordon was a resident in Urology at the Mayo Clinic. She is survived and will be missed by her son, Dr. Erik Strom (wife Naomi) of Minneapolis, MN, and her daughter, Kristine Erickson (husband Ron) of Edina, MN; grandchildren Lisa (husband Brett) Wiese, Ryan (wife Karla) Strom, Lesley Strom (fiance Rob Ruud) and David Erickson (fiancee Kristen Migliori); and great grandchildren Brooke and Lauren Wiese and May, Ted and Oscar Strom. She was born and raised in Lewistown, Montana, attended The Northhampton School and Smith College. She married Gordon in 1943 and they settled in Minneapolis after World War II. She was active in several medical auxiliary organizations, but her fondest days were spent in her gardens, both at her home in Edina and at her hobby farm in Lakeville. In accordance with her wishes, no funeral service will be held. Instead she wished that all who knew her would bake a pie, plant a tree, listen to a Bach chorale, or cuddle a beloved pet. There will be a private burial in Duluth. If desired, memorials are suggested to the Strom Neuroscience Fund of the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation, 200 Oak Street S.E., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55455. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Posted in: 1930s, Class of 1939

Martens E. Goos ’39

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Martens E Goos 90, died in San Diego on Tuesday November 20, 2012. “Marty” Goos was born on February 16, 1922 in Danbury and attended Danbury High School and Williston Academy in Easthampton, Ma. He served in the US Army Air Corp and after his father’s retirement became the owner of Goos Lumber Company. He served a term as President of CT Lumber Dealers Association as well as Chairman of the Danbury Conservation Commission. He was instrumental in the creation of Richter Park, Richter Arts Assoc., Old Quarry Nature Center, Dryska Farm Preserve and Halas Open Space. Survivors include his second wife, Joan Bassi Goos; a daughter, Nancy Coppola of The Villages, Fl; a son, Stephen E Goos of Bridgewater, CT; a sister, Naomi Brede of Danbury; five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. He is also survived by three step-children, Gina Martinot, Christine Bassi and Raymond Bassi and six step grandchildren all of San Diego. Burial arrangements will be private.

Posted in: 1930s, Class of 1939