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.
Category Archives: 1930s
Mary Cary Rea ’35
Mary 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.
Charles Ryan ’35
Charles 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.
Charles Angell, Jr. ’32
Charles H. Angell, Jr passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the age of 99 years, 10 1/2 months. He had lived in the same house in Glencoe, IL for 62 years.
Charles was the loving husband of Lucinda M Angell, nee Marsh, deceased, whom he married on September 14, 1940. He was the father of Charles H. Angell III, deceased, (Gail), Susan F. Angell, Lucinda J. Angell (Harold C. Ogg), and Jeffrey C. Angell (Karen); grandfather of five; great-grandfather of nine. He was born in Springfield, MA, son of Charles H and Jessie F. Angell.
Charles was a graduate of Princeton University, class of 1937, with a BS in Chemical Engineering. His ROTC Unit was the last Horse Drawn Field Artillery Unit at Princeton. He was a veteran of World War II, stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines. After the war, Charles continued in the Reserves, finishing up with another year of Active Duty at Fort Lee VA, as a member of the 322 Logistical Command.
Charles worked first for Dow Chemical in New England. When Charles and Lucinda moved to Glencoe in 1952, he began working for Corite Reynolds, where he later became president. After leaving Corite, he started working as a consultant in Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics. He soon grew to love his consulting work, since it literally took him all over the world–all 7 continents, all 50 states, all countries in Europe, and others too many to mention. As part of his consulting work, Charles spoke at scientific conferences, again all over the world. In their leisure time, he and Lucinda continued their love of traveling, and took their children on some fabulous vacations
John Laliberte ’38
John P. Laliberte, 94, died peacefully on Friday, November 21 at Renaissance in Holyoke.
Born on August 8, 1920, he was the son of Amedee and Irene (Lavoie) Laliberte.
He attended schools in Holyoke’s Highland Grammar School which was constructed by his paternal grandfather Joseph, president of the Laliberte Construction Co. and then Williston Academy, graduating in 1938.
John proudly served his country in the US Army during WWII. His military service was followed by 40 years of service with the Fisk Tire Co, U.S. Rubber Co & Uniroyal Tire Co as chief chemist in the technical and quality control division. He and his family enjoyed membership for 50 years at the Holyoke Canoe Club, where he served on the board of directors.
He will be forever missed by his sons, David and his wife Jean and Paul Laliberte all of Troy, AL. He also leaves a grandchild Jennifer Gruber and husband Nick, great grandchildren, John Harrison Gruber and Hawkins David Gruber all of Lincoln, Nebraska and brother-in-law, Chuck Viens of South Hadley. He was predeceased by his wife Lois, son Donald and sister Annette Viens.
Marguerite “Peggy” Newton Smith ’32
Marguerite “Peggy” Newton Smith, 99 of Torch Lake, Antrim County, passed away on Mar. 16, 2015 at St. Anne’s Mead Senior Care Community in Southfield.
Marguerite was born July 25, 1915 in Pittsfield, MA, the daughter of Edward G. and Eugenia (Peterson) Newton.
She graduated from Northampton School for Girls in 1932 and Brenau College in Gainesville, GA with a bachelor’s degree in English. Marguerite worked as a secretary for G.E. and Reader’s Digest. She also was a Red Cross Staff Assistant stationed in Tunis, North Africa, during WWII.
On May 1, 1945 in Pittsfield, MA, she married Dr. George E. Smith. After many years of living in Bloomfield Township, they moved to Torch Lake in 1979. Marguerite became an active member of the Central Lake Lioness Club and enjoyed the many friends she met.
Surviving Marguerite are her children Jon Smith of Royal Oak, Steven (Jeanne) Smith of Royal Oak, Sharon (Dennis) Blom of Edwardsville, IL, Nancy Baker of Salt Lake City, UT, 7 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband George in 2009, her daughter Carol Smith in 1989, and brothers John and Edward G. Newton.
Jean Laskey Drew ’38
Jean Harmon Baker ’33
Jean Harmon Baker, age 100, passed away in Catonsville, MD on April 15, 2015.
Born in Yonkers, NY, she attended The Northampton School for Girls and worked for Exxon where she met her late husband, Harold Jay Baker.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son James, daughter Mary Ellen, 4 brothers, 2 sisters and her parents.
Jean is survived by her daughter, Amy Baker Lohr (James) and grandchildren Kristin Jean Lohr and Susannah Baker Lohr.
D. Gordon Halstead ’35
D. 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.
Robert W. Griffin ’37
Robert Wendell Griffin died January 26, 2015 in Falmouth, MA. He was 95.
Mr. Griffin was born in Newtonville, MA. He was the son of George Appleton Griffin and Ellen (Gifford) Griffin of Woods Hole. A 10th-generation Cape Codder, he lived in Falmouth for most of his life. Through his mother, he traced his ancestry in Falmouth and Woods Hole back to the Giffords, Hatches and Robinsons, who settled the area in 1661.
Mr. Griffin was married for 49 years to Martha (Vincent) Griffin until her death in 1992. In 1994, he married Catherine B. Enos of Edgartown.