Lafayette “Laf” Keeney, 89, of Fenwick in Old Saybrook, husband of the late Janet (Hale) Keeney (2002), entered into eternal peace, Thursday, February 18, 2016 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Lafayette was born on December 18, 1926 in Somersville, CT and was the youngest of six children of Ralph and Julia (Allen) Keeney. He grew up in Somersville and attended Valley Forge Military Academy (not as a problem child, he really wanted to go), received his high school diploma from Norwich University and his college diploma from Nichols College. He served honorably in the United States Army as part of the force that occupied Germany at the conclusion of World War II. He married Janet Hale of Portland, CT in August 1950 and moved to Somers, CT where they raised their family of three sons. Each is married today and Lafayette proudly has eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He spent his entire business life at Sage-Allen & Co., a specialty department store headquartered in Hartford until his retirement as Chairman and CEO in 1990. Throughout his professional career, Lafayette served on the boards of many local companies and institutions including the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Arthur A. Watson & Co., Fleet Bank, Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, Suffield Academy, and Nichols College. He was a sixty year Mason and a member of Composite Lodge #28 in Suffield and a member of Royal Order of Jesters, Court #141 in Hartford. He was the longest serving member and past Commodore of the Canoe Club in East Hartford. He was a member of the Westbrook Elks Lodge 1784. He was a member of the First Church of Christ in Old Saybrook. Lafayette and Janet built their dream house and moved to the Fenwick section of Old Saybrook in 1988. He was very active in the community serving many years as a member of the Board of Burgesses and elected to three terms as Warden. He had a lifelong passion for the New York Yankees and was at the Stadium when Don Larsen pitched the perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He enjoyed coffee and conversation each morning with his buddies in Old Saybrook. They spent many hours planning the annual Scum Beach Picnic. His door was always open for old friends to visit and if he wasn’t at his house, odds were you could find him on the golf course or chasing bluefish up and down the beach. Lafayette is survived by his three sons, Frank D. Keeney and his wife Beverly of Old Saybrook, CT, Ralph D. Keeney and his wife Cathy of Cortland, NY, and Jeffrey H. Keeney and his wife Caryn of Portland, OR; a sister, Julia Ann Walton and her husband Bill of Fenwick; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren. Besides his wife Janet, Lafayette was predeceased by a granddaughter, Emily; three brothers, Norm, Bud, and Tom; and a sister, Caroline.
Category Archives: Class of 1945
Robert Treat ’45
Robert Fuller Treat was born on March 6, 1927, in Hartford, Conn. He was the son of Merritt W. and Frances K. Treat.
Bob attended school in West Hartford, Conn., and graduated from the Williston Academy in 1945. After graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he received numerous medals. After the Navy, he graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He was associated with the family business of Clapp & Treat Hardware in Hartford, Conn., while further pursuits included working for a tour company in Europe, where he did extensive traveling. After returning to the U.S., he worked for Western Publishing in New York City.
In 1961, Bob married Sigrid Johnson, daughter of Carl and Thelma Johnson of Baltimore. Former residents of West Hartford, Conn., and Ridgewood, N.J., the Treats moved in 1971 to Oxford, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where he and Sigrid raised two children. He continued to put his entrepreneurial skills to work in his Easton retail business, Chelsea Cupboard, until retirement.
While in retirement, Bob was a volunteer to the Easton Water fowl Festival for many years. He also had a keen interest in gardening and could be found throughout Oxford helping residents keep their gardens beautiful. He loved all Oxford had to offer. He was a member of the Tred Avon Yacht Club and the Easton Lions Club. On any given day, he would ride his bicycle through town to catch up with friends along the way.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Sigrid Treat of Oxford; two children, Carl Treat and his wife Michael of Easton, and Alison Dalley and her husband Richard of Lambertville, N.J.; and a granddaughter, Kristin Treat.
At Bob’s request, his body was donated for the advancement of science.
Nancy Morse Willeson ’45
Nancy Lee (Morse) Willeson, A.K.A. Nancy Maxwell-Willeson, aged 87 went to be with her Lord April 18.
Nancy was living in Palm Harbor, FL. She was born January 20, 1928 in Wellesley Hills, MA, to Roger Earle & Gladys Carr Morse. She spent summers as a child at the family farm in Francestown, N.H., and also at the family cottage in Chatham, Cape Cod, MA. She graduated from Northampton School For Girls, in Northampton, MA, and she also graduated from Principia College in Elsah, IL.
She married Ronald (Max) Maxwell-Willeson Sept. 6, 1952, and brought up her four children in Wayland, MA and later in Chatham, MA.
James Gillchrest, Jr ’45
James 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.
Joan Penfield Begg ’45
Joan Farist Penfield Begg, formerly of Trumbull and Falls Village, died peacefully November 13, 2014 at Connecticut Hospice, Branford, CT at the age of 87.
Born in Bridgeport, CT on March 1, 1927 to Joel Farist Penfield and Ethel Logan Penfield., she was a longtime resident of the Nichols section of Trumbull, CT and Falls Village, CT.
She graduated from Northhampton School for Girls, Endicott College and earned a B.S. in Dental Hygiene from the University of Bridgeport. She has been a Member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Nichols, CT for nearly sixty years, a member of Salisbury Arsenal Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Associate member Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter, Milford, CT, The National Society Colonial Dames XVII, the Winthrop Fleet Chapter, Salisbury, CT, Past President National Society Magna Carta Dames, National Society Daughters of American Colonists, CT Chapter.
Rev. George Higgins ’45
The Reverend George B. Higgins died on April 25th, 2014 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, NY at the age of 87. Reverend Higgins He is survived by his loving family.
“The Rev” will be fondly remembered as a lively presence in the pulpit and throughout the communities where he lived during his many successful pastorates. With his tartan Tam O’Shanter, his Scottish mustache and walking stick (aka: his companion) he was always ready to engage anyone he crossed paths with – on just about any known subject.
George was born and raised in North Adams, MA and always maintained a healthy pride in all things New England, especially with regard to the Red Sox, The Berkshires, Cape Cod and his Pilgrim roots all the way back to the Mayflower. George also loved to honor his Scottish and Nova Scotian heritage.
After graduating from Williams College in 1949 he entered the US Navy. After an honorable discharge, he answered his call to the ministry earning a Master’s in Divinity from New York Theological Seminary.
During that time, he married Marie Stovel of Devonshire Bermuda and accepted his first pastorate at the Congregational church in Vernon CT where they also began their family. Thereafter, he went on to serve multi-year stints at churches in Milford NH, Dover DE, Stony Stratford UK, Dalton MA, Briarcliff Manor NY and Hawthorne NY.
Known as an excellent builder of congregations as well as a thorough and entertaining preacher, many will fondly remember his different pulpit traditions – most especially his Christmas Eve rendering of the birth of Christ in the Braid Scotts translation.
George enjoyed a life-long affiliation with Camp Beckett where he spent his childhood summers and Williams College returning each year for alumni reunions. He also enjoyed his many civic involvements including terms serving as Town Moderator in Eastham MA, Dalton MA and Milford NH, Chairman of the Cape Cod Conservation Committee, active membership in local Rotary Clubs and his time as Chaplain and ambulance driver at the BMFD.
George invested 65 years of his life in Christian ministry and was actively preaching until one month before his passing. He touched many lives with his booming voice and outgoing personality – and will not soon be forgotten.
Thornton Benson Morris ’45
Thornton Benson “Ted” Morris, 86, died peacefully in his sleep on March 20, 2014, in Pittsboro, NC. The cause of death was Alzheimer’s Disease.
The eldest of three children, Ted was born on February 6, 1928 in Plainfield, NJ to Elizabeth Jenkins Morris and Herbert Leroy Morris. Valedictorian of his Williston Academy class in 1945, he went on to receive a BA in Economics from Princeton University in 1953, having completed his college education in three sessions, scheduled around his service as Chief Petty Officer in the Navy from 1946-48 and 1952.
Jarvis Howe Ewing ’45
Jarvis Howe (Jock) Ewing, 87, died Monday, Nov. 25, 2013.
He was born in Milton, to artist parents Ray and Louise Ewing, and raised in Easthampton, with younger sister, Louisa.
A student at Williston Academy, he enlisted in the Navy in 1944, serving in a U.S. PT boat squadron in the Philippines as a radar man.
An early ski racer, Mr. Ewing fractured his leg after the war ended on Mt. Tom.
He entered Rhode Island School of Design in 1947, where he met Mim; they married in 1947. He graduated from RISD in 1952 with a degree in illustration.
He and his wife moved to Berlin in 1959, where he served as Scout leader, ski instructor, parade float designer, auction coordinator, conservation commissioner and on the Planning Board. He studied math at Worcester State College and worked 32 years as plastic design engineer for Chu Associates in Littleton.
He is survived by his wife, Mim; his daughter, Brenna; his grandchildren Sarah, Tyler and Blais and his wife, Denielle; and his grandson, Edric.
Nicholas T. Giangrasso ’45
Nicholas T. Giangrasso, age 85, beloved husband of Hilda Louise Frank Giangrasso of Trumbull, died on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center while holding hands with his loving family. Born in Astoria, New York on November 23, 1927, he was a son of the late Carmello (Thomas) and Nancy Giaimo Giangrasso and was a Trumbull resident for over 75 years. He was a World War II Veteran serving in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Giangrasso received a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown Law School. Before his retirement he was an attorney who practiced in the area for 44 years. He also was an assistant prosecutor of the Circuit Court for the 2nd Circuit of CT, a past member of the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association, an active member and past president of the Trumbull Italian Community Club, a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Fayerweather Yacht Club and the Turkey Roost Rod & Gun Club. In addition to his wife, survivors include four loving children, Nancy Card and her husband Richard of Beacon Falls, Theresa Navarre and her husband Louis of Morris, Nicholas C. Giangrasso and his wife June of Venice, FL and Daniel A. Giangrasso of Trumbull, a brother, Dr. Anthony Giangrasso and his wife Bettie of Trumbull, a sister, Bessie Butto of Trumbull, six grandchildren, Alison, Kimberly, Richard, Gary, Lindsay and Nicole, a great grandson Quinn as well as several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Mass celebrating his life will take place on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in Christ the King Church, 4700 Madison Ave, Trumbull. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. To light a virtual candle, visit us at www.abriola.com.