Category Archives: 1940s

Barry Purrington ’46

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Barry PurringtonBarry Jay Purrington, 86, of Whitehouse, Texas passed away December 10, 2014 in Tyler, Texas.

Barry was born February 8, 1928 in Pittsburg, PA, to Rollo & Marian Purrington.

Mr. Purrington grew up in Haydenville, Massachusetts before joining the Navy in 1946. After serving his country, Barry received his Bachelor’s Degree from Carnegie Institute of Technology. He enjoyed woodworking and piano tuning in his spare time. Barry was a faithful member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Tyler.

Surviving are Wife, Jean Purrington of Whitehouse, Daughter, Kim & Glenn Strauss of Tyler, Son, Jay Purrington of Irving, Son, Dan & Robyn Purrington of Huntington, WV, 9 Grandchildren, 9 Great Grandchildren, Brother, Bruce Purrington, and Brother, Dick Purrington.

Barry was preceded in death by his Parents.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1946

Kenneth Langbehn ’46

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Ken LangbehnKenneth Peter Langbehn, Jr. died at home August 18, 2013 at the age of 85, in the arms of his wife of 35 years, Veleria Richmond Langbehn.

Kenneth was born at home in Vero Beach, FL on Sept. 13, 1927, to Kenneth P. Langbehn, Sr. and Barbara De Kold.

He was married to Patricia Laub Langbehn Nelson (dec.) and they had five children, Sharon (Art) Noriega, Vero Beach, Leonissa (Tom) Abraham-Dean, NH, Wayne (Wendy) Hopkins-Langbehn, CT., Cynthia (Robert) Gruber, Vero Beach, Georgenna (Michael) Biganzoli, Ocala. Kenneth had one sister, Mary Jo Mancini (dec.), four grand-children, one great grandchild, two nieces, and 3 cousins.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1946

Mary Elizabeth Doble Canterbury ’43

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Mary Elizabeth Doble Canterbury '43Mary Elizabeth Doble Canterbury of Palm City FL, formerly of Hingham, MA, died May 22, 2015 at the age of 91.

Betty was born in Quincy, MA, and was raised in Hingham, MA, she graduated from Northampton School for Girls in 1943.

She married William B. Canterbury on December 24, 1946. Betty and Bill raised their family in Hingham and moved to Stuart, Florida in 1975. Betty was predeceased by her husband and her parents William H. Doble, Jr. and Elizabeth Gilman Doble, and a sister Sally Doble McKenny.

She is survived by her children Gay (Fritz) Blaicher ’61 of Vero Beach, FL; Nancy (Tony) Miller ’66 of Wilmington, NC and Samuel Canterbury ’76 of Sarasota, FL. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Ann Doble Abbey ’44 of Georgetown, CO.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943

Dr. Marilyn Mailman Segal ’44

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Marilyn Mailman Segal '44DR. MARILYN (MICKEY) MAILMAN SEGAL, professor of human development and renowned specialist in infant and toddler development passed away on November 19, 2014.

To her children Betty Bardige (Art), Wendy Masi (Nick), Richard Segal (Monica), Patti Lieberman (Bruce), and Debbie Segal, she was a continual source of inspiration, the guiding light of the A.L. Mailman Family Foundation. To her 13 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild, she was a loving and playful presence.

She founded the first Head Start in Broward County and the first inclusion preschool. As one of the first PhD recipients at Nova Southeastern University, she went on to establish several NSU programs including an online doctorate in Early Childhood Education, the University School (Pre-K-12) and the Family Center, today referred to as the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development. She was a Trustee of University of Miami and served on the Board of Zero to Three.

Author of 17 books and countless articles, Mickey was a tireless and visionary advocate for children. She was beloved by many as a teacher, mentor, colleague and friend.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1944, Uncategorized

John M. Newton, Jr. ’42

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NewtonJohn M. Newton Jr., 91, of Wolfeboro, NH, father, husband, grandfather, great grandfather and card-carrying member of the Greatest Generation, died peacefully at home on April 12, less than a month before turning 92.

He leaves his wife Ernestine, sons John Newton ‘67 and wife Patricia Fiorelli of Newburyport, Mass, Mark L. Newton ‘70 and wife Susan of Snellville, GA and David Newton ‘74 and wife Lynn Wolff of Boston.  A third son, Peter ‘71, predeceased him. He also leaves six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was born in Springfield, Mass, son of John M. Newton Sr. and Dorris B. Newton.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1942

James Gillchrest, Jr ’45

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GillchrestJames A. Gillchrest, Jr., 88, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Born in Thomaston on Nov. 28, 1926, he was the son of James, Sr. and Eva Demuth Gillchrest. He began his education in Thomaston, and later graduated from Williston Academy in Northampton, Mass.

Following high school, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II. After being honorably discharged, he attended University of Maine at Orono, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1949. While at UMO, Jim was a member of the Phi Eta Kappa Fraternity.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1945

Robert Ceely ’48

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Robert Ceely '48Robert Ceely was born in Torrington, Connecticut and grew up in Longmeadow and Williamstown in Massachusetts.

He attended the Pine Cobble School (?—1945), Williston Academy (Class of 1948), Hobart College (1948/49), the New England Conservatory (Class of 1954) where he studied with Francis Cooke. Further studies were with Darius Milhaud and Leon Kirchner at Mills College where he earned the degree of Master of Arts (1961), and with Roger Sessions. Edward Cone and Milton Babbitt at Princeton University (1958/59).

In 1963-64 he worked in the Electronic Music Studio in Milan as guest of The Italian Government. His compositions include solo, chamber, and orchestral music as well as music for tape alone and tape with instruments. His ballet “Beyond the Ghost Spectrum”, with choreography by James Waring commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation, was performed at Tanglewood in August, 1969, with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting. His opera” Automobile Graveyard”, after a play by Fernando Arrabal, was presented at the New England Conservatory in 1995.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1948

Stephen King ’41

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KingStephen B. King, age 91, a North Chatham resident since 1989, died Feb. 14, 2015 at Cape Cod Hospital, after a brief illness.

He was the husband of Helen L. King. Mr. King was born in Northampton, MA where he attended Smith College Day School followed by Williston Academy prior to graduation from Deerfield Academy. He went on to MIT from which he graduated in 1947 with a degree in chemistry, after serving in the U.S. Army and attending the Coast Guard Academy. During his stay at MIT, he was a member of Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, the vice president of his senior class, the commodore of the MIT Sailing Association and the president of the Intercollegiate Sailing Association.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1941