Tag Archives: Class of 1935

Margaret Lovett Doyle ’35

doyleOn Wednesday, January 4, 2017, surrounded by those she loved, Margaret “Meg” Doyle, Matriarch of Clan Doyle, passed peacefully from this world to the next. There, she’ll get to spend eternity in the loving arms of her God and her husband “Bun”, who predeceased her. Margaret (MOM) was the loving heart of our family which spans four generations. She and Bun had five children: Frank, Pete, Mike, Joe and Margaret. Her children blessed her with eight grandchildren: Michele, Veronica, David, Katy, Chris, Frank, Joe and Shawna. More recently came eight great grandchildren: Justin, Keelin, Joe, Tim, Julia, Molly, Bryce and Madison. Also included in the clan are many nephews and nieces, particularly Liz, whose lives have been touched by the beautiful person who, to us, was MOM. Mom was energetic in civic and church programs and activities, giving care and assistance to all whenever the need was there. One of her greatest pleasures was seeing those she loved succeed in life’s challenges and opportunities. She was always quick with recognition and praise for all her family. Mom was a fifty-year-plus member of the Cursillo Community and an active participant in Opus Dei where, up to the end, she kept many friends close to her heart. Mom’s passing has left a void in the hearts and lives of everyone she touched.

Frank Conant ’35

Frank ConantFrank Priest Conant, 98, of Easthampton, died Wednesday, March 2, 2016, in his home.

He was born Oct. 28, 1917, in Littleton, the son of the late Harold W. and Dorothy Priest Conant. He was a graduate of Williston Academy class of 1935 and Wesleyan University class of 1939.

He was vice president of International Operations for the United Elastic Corporation retiring in 1969, then becoming a trust officer at the First National Bank of Northampton retiring in 1977.

Frank served in the army during World War II; a Massachusetts National Guard member federalized one day after Pearl Harbor. He served for the duration of the war, five years to the day, attaining the rank of major.

He was a member of Southampton Congregational Church, UCC serving as a church leader in various capacities. He was a trustee of Williston Academy and Williston-Northampton School in Easthampton, Ferrum College in Virginia, and Childs Park in Northampton. He served on numerous Southampton school and building committees and the cemetery commission. He was also a member of the American Legion, Franklin Harvest Club and Easthampton Rotary Club. He was the author of several local historical books including “God’s Steward” a history of Williston Academy.

Frank was predeceased by wife Jessie Phillips Conant who died in 1944 and by wife Ruby Bowlin Conant who died in 2002. He is survived by two sons, Dale B. Conant of Martinsburg, West Virginia, and John W. Conant (Sally) of South Deerfield, and two daughters, Ann C. Leatherman (Stephen) of Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Rev. Mary P. Conant (Robin) of Sunol, California; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sisters, Elizabeth C. Cook and Lucy H. Conant.

Mary Cary Rea ’35

Mary Cary ReaMary Cary Rea, 98, died peacefully at the Holbrook Health Center, Piper Shores Retirement Community, Scarborough, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015.
She was born on Dec. 30, 1916 in Ridgewood, NJ, the daughter of Charles Austin Cary and Frances Campbell Cary. Although Mary lived in several different states as a child, moving with every promotion her father earned with the DuPont Company, summers were spent in Maine with family in Cherryfield, Machias, Pond Island, and finally on her beloved Trafton Island which she and her brother purchased in 1947.

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Charles Ryan ’35

RyanCharles Francis Ryan, of Framingham, 100, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, August 7, 2015.

He was the born in the family residence on December 10, 1914 in Williamstown the son of the late Anne (Fleming) Ryan and Francis A. Ryan.

He graduated from Williamstown High School and Williston Academy in 1935 and from Bentley College in 1937.

He served his country proudly as a Technician | 4th Grade with the United States Army during World War II in the European Theater of Operation from Dec. 1942 to Jan. 1946.

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D. Gordon Halstead ’35

HalsteadD. Gordon Halstead, of North Branford and formerly of Guilford Connecticut, died Sunday, April 12 at the age of 96 at Yale New Haven Hospital.

He was the devoted husband of Virginia Carpenter Halstead. Ginnie and Gordon were married for over 68 years. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on August 30, 1918 to Vera and Paul Halstead, Gordon grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut. He attended Williston Academy and then graduated from Phillips Exeter in 1936. Gordon was a member of the class of 1940 at Harvard College, where he captained the varsity lacrosse team and was a member of the varsity soccer team. He also was a member of the Pi Eta Club, and starred in many of their theatrical and musical productions.

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William Sleeper, Jr. ’35

William Hobbs Sleeper, Jr. 'Bill'William H. Sleeper (99) passed peacefully on December 17, 2014 from metastasized prostate cancer at his retirement home in Mill Creek, WA.

Bill was born in Exeter, New Hampshire on August 5, 1915 to William H. Sleeper and Florence (Clark) Sleeper. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Williston Academy, graduating in Physics from Harvard University.

As an electrical engineer, and radar and weapons system specialist, he worked at Foxboro Instrument, Sperry Gyroscope, Bendix Aviation, M.I.T., Caltech, General Electric, Boeing, and Raytheon, finally retiring in 1990 at age 75.

Bill joined the Navy during World War II and served as radar maintenance officer on the U.S.S. Quincy both in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatres. His ship carried President Roosevelt to and from the Yalta Conference in Malta, then traveled through the Panama Canal to support military efforts in the Pacific until the war ended. During a 3-day shore leave in NYC, he married his “child bride” Norma Jean Pribyl, had a 1-day honeymoon, then shipped out to sea for 9 more months. He and Norma were happily married for 66 years until her death in 2011.

Bill is survived by his two children, Barbara Sleeper and William H. Sleeper III, three grandchildren, Kelly (Citron) Galloway, David Citron and Josh Citron, and six great-grandchildren, Grady and Gretta Galloway and Paige, Claire, Noah and Sam Citron.

Ruth Prentice Currier Gates ’35

GatesRuth Prentice Currier Gates, age 93, of Johnstown, N.Y., passed away Thursday, December 1, 2011, at Nathan Littauer Nursing Home in Gloversville.

She was the wife, of 51 years, of Forrest Palmer Gates, who died in 1991.

Ruth was born on October 12, 1918, to Richard Dudley and Adele Ames Currier in Montclair, New Jersey, and graduated from Colby Junior College, New London, New Hampshire.

She served as secretary and president of the Board of Managers of the Willing Helpers Home For Women of Johnstown, New York. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Johnstown, the Aldine Society and the Burroughs Nature Study Club of Johnstown.

She was predeceased by her oldest son, Richard Palmer Gates, who was a casualty of the Vietnam War in 1969. Survivors include: her sons, William Currier Gates and his wife, Beth, of Johnstown; John Dudley Gates and his wife, Patricia, of Mayfield; six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. The family wants to thank the staff of Nathan Littauer Nursing Home and Pineview Commons for their professional and loving care for Ruth during her years there.