Edward J. Craig II, died on July 18, 2018 in his 98th year in Newport, RI. Edward was born in New York City on August 18, 1920 and moved to Santiago, Chile as a young boy where he spent 6 years.
After he attended the Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA and the Scarborough School-on Hudson, NY, Edward attended the Musical institute of Art and then matriculated at Columbia University in 1939 and also acted in at least one Broadway production. His studies were interrupted by the start of WW2 and he joined the US Marines in 1941 as 1st Lieutenant Marine Infantry (1st Battalion) and lead one of the first platoons to land on the beaches of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942 where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. Edward was later promoted to Captain and became aide-de-camp for the Commanding General of the USMC in the Pacific in Melbourne, Australia until 1945 when he was decommissioned.
Edward then started working in a antiquated book and manuscript business in NYC and graduated from Columbia University in 1948. He completed graduate courses at Brown University and earned an MA degree in English and Spanish literature from URI.
He then embarked on a teaching career at the Portsmouth Priory, Brown University, the Newport Naval College in Newport, as well as a number of public schools including Thompson Junior High School in Newport. Edward taught Spanish, French, Latin and English Literature over the years in different capacities.
Edward created an antiquities business from home from 1969 – 2003 and was an avid amateur artist of painting and music.
Edward is survived by his wife, Valentine Vernon Craig and nine of his ten children Grenville, Vernon, Valentine, Guy, Diana, Gloria, Franklin, Francesca and Marion. His second son Edward J Craig III died in 1976.
Tag Archives: Class of 1939
Charlotte Drea Adams Rising ’39
Charlotte Adams Rising, 95, passed away March 21, 2018 in Medford, Oregon. The only child of Dr. William Francis Drea and Rhoda Smith Drea, Charlotte was born July 25, 1922, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She graduated from the Northampton School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1939 and then spent three years at Stanford University before her marriage to 2nd Lt. Waldemar H. (Bud) Adams in 1942. After World War II, they made their home in the Detroit area, where they raised their four children.
After Bud’s death in 1964, Charlotte became the Registrar for the Merrill Palmer Institute in Detroit, completed her undergraduate degree at Wayne State University, and graduated from the University of Michigan Graduate School of Library Science. She married the Rev. Richard L. Rising in 1969, moved with him to Rochester, New York, and pursued her career as librarian until their move to Dolores, Colorado. They both retired while in Colorado and subsequently moved to Sonoma, California. But Oregon beckoned, and in 1991 they moved to Ashland, where Richard died in 1998. Beginning in the spring of 2000, Charlotte shared her life with Theodore F. Carter and moved with him to Rogue Valley Manor in 2005.
During her years in Oregon, Charlotte was a reader, Lay Eucharistic Minister, and vestry member at Ashland’s Trinity Episcopal Church, a board member of the Tudor Guild and Ashland’s AAUW, a member of Chapter FO, P.E.O., and a respite volunteer for the Providence Hospital Hospice.
She is survived by her children, Natalie Riley, William Adams, Charles Adams, and Michael Adams; her step children, John Rising, Cynthia Rising, Caroline Maxey, Stephen Rising, Catherine Rising, and William Rising; eight grandchildren; eight step grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
John W. Williams ’39
John Williams passed away on 4/8/15 after a brief decline & for no other reason other than old age &… old age—went peacefully & surrounded by love.
Kendall Lewis ’39
Kendall Lewis died peacefully, after a brief illness, on Thursday, October 30, at Piper Shores in Scarborough, ME.
Mr. Lewis was born in Abington, PA, the son of James McKeen Lewis and Alice Kendall Lewis. He first met his wife of nearly 66 years, Betsey Converse Lewis, when they were both teenagers living in Stony Creek, CT.
Mr. Lewis graduated from Williston Academy in 1939, and went on to Yale College, but left to serve in the Navy during World War II. His service was mostly in the Pacific aboard the light cruiser, the USS Denver. After the war he returned to Yale and completed his degree in Industrial Engineering, graduating as a member of the class of 1943. During the war Mr. Lewis re-encountered Betsey Converse and asked for her hand. They were married on December 4, 1948 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New Haven, CT.
Sally Gavin See ’39
Sally Gavin See ’39 died on April 4, 2014. She was born on July 27, 1922 in Taunton, Massachusetts, the second of four daughters.
She was the niece of Sarah B. Whitaker, co-founder of the Northampton School for Girls. Sally graduated from Northampton School for Girls in 1939. Also graduates of NSFG, her sisters Phyllis Robinson and Caroline Arnold survive her; sister Mary Brenneman preceded her in death. Sally had four children: little Sally (Sarah Helen Seigel ’62 – deceased); Tess (Ellen Hope Durant ’64); Sheena (Pamela Hathaway See ’69); and Randy (Randolph Bartlett See ’75). She had six grandchildren: Michael Pitts(’91) and Eric Pitts; Phoebe and Poppy Durant; and Gloria and Rebecca See; and six great-grandchildren: Charlie and Crosby Pitts; Natalie and Perry Shen; and Harlow and Charlie Decunto.
Thomas H Turner ’39
Thomas Turner was born on September 2, 1920 and passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2013.
Thomas was a resident of Monument, Colorado.
Dr. William David Michael, Jr. ’39
Dr. William David Michael Jr. passed away Saturday, May 3, in Weymouth. He was 95 years old.
Dave was born in Quincy, in 1919, to William David Michael Sr. and Mary (Alexander) Michael. He graduated from Thayer and Williston Academies and received his Doctor of Optometric Degree from Pennsylvania State College of Optometry.
After serving in the Navy during World War II, he joined his father’s Optometric practice in Quincy.
He married Marion Ross Scudder, his childhood sweetheart, in 1942. They settled in Weymouth and later moved to Hingham. Dave continued his Optometric practice in Quincy until retirement, when he and Marion moved to Hilton Head, S.C., in 1978. In retirement, they pursued their love of travel and Daves dream of golfing year round.
Dr. Michael was predeceased by his wife of 65 years Marion, his parents, a daughter, Marion Leslie Michael, and a grandson, David Monroe. He is survived by his three daughters, Joan Monroe of Weymouth, Wendy Mauch of Lochmere, N.H., and Meredith Schubach of Tucson, Ariz. Dave is also survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandsons.
Margaret Perkins Stiff ’39
Margaret “Peg” (Perkins) Stiff, 92, of Simsbury, beloved wife of 58 years to the late Victor O. S. Stiff, died Thursday, January 2, 2014 at John Dempsey Hospital.
She was born June 1, 1921 in New Haven, daughter of the late Rowan and Marion (Dowkontt) Perkins and had lived in Honolulu, HI, Buffalo, NY and North Canton, prior to recently moving to the McLean Cottages in Simsbury.
Peg was a veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged as Lieutenant (JG). She was a graduate of Northampton School for Girls and Smith College.
Mrs. Stiff was a Psychology Associate for Hartford Hospital for many years. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Canton Center. Peg enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Peg had many and varied interests. She enjoyed animals very much and loved raising her Puli dogs. She and her husband, Victor were active in The Puli Club of America where she served as past Historian, Newsletter Editor and served on the board as an officer of the club. Peg was also active in The Pilgrim Puli Club and The Puli Club of CT. They enjoyed attending and participating in dog shows and had numerous trophies, ribbons, pictures and memories of their wonderful dogs’ achievements. Painting was a lifelong passion. Her home was full of wonderful paintings she had done. While living in Honolulu, Peg took painting lessons by the now renowned painter, John Pike. Peg enjoyed traveling with her beloved husband, Victor. They traveled to numerous dog shows across the country and they also enjoyed vacations to Europe and Switzerland. Peg also had an adventurous side to her. She even took airplane pilot lessons.
In her early years, Peg suffered a great tragedy by the early passing of her father. Her grandparents were very supportive and assisted her mother in raising Peg and her brother, Rowan. They traveled a great deal spending most winters in Sebring, FL. Summers were spent in Lithia, MA where her grandmother ran Mountain Rest, a summer home for missionaries.
She is survived by her seven nieces and nephews, Carol Landis of Manchester, MO, Katherine Lafferty of Henderson, CO, Rowan Perkins of Stevensville, MD, Eric Perkins of Elkton, MD, Patricia Waldorf of Newark, DE, Dan Perkins of Bear, DE and Shelley Perkins Foster of Wilmington, DE and her and Vic’s longtime friend, Stephen Jackson.
Kermit George Pratt ’39
Kermit George Pratt, 92, of Newport News, died Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013.
He was born Sept.12, 1921, in Windsor, Vermont, the son of George Henry Pratt and Mary Patterson Pratt of Windsor, Vermont. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Colin and Ann Pratt of Newport News; his daughter, Kay-Lyn Pratt Merritt of Ashland; five grandchildren, Lindsay Zanol (Max) of Gloucester Point, Adam Pratt of Henrico, Robin Merritt Liesfeld (Kenny) of Montpelier, Rebecca Merritt of Ashland, Catherine Merritt Blanche (Bradley) of Glen Allen; and three great grandchildren, Luca and Bella Liesfeld of Montpelier, and Abel Blanche of Glen Allen. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn, who died in October, 2000.
Honour Buell Edgerton ’39
Honour Edgerton was an extraordinarily thoughtful and caring person. She listened, and you became the center of her universe. She was courageous. Blind for several years, she never wavered in her good humor or positive outlook. She is gone but her spirit remains.
Honour Buell Edgerton died on Nov. 10, 2013, at HillHouse Assisted Living in Bath from congestive heart failure.