Remembering members of the Williston Northampton community

David Ming-Li Lowe ’54

November 17, 2014 jpilgrim 2 Comments

David Ming-Li Lowe ’54, passed away on September 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, California.

Born in Shanghai to a father who was a foreign-service officer for the Chinese Nationalist Party, the Kuomingtang, and a graduate of the University of Chicago, David was educated in Calcutta, India, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the U.S., and was, in his early years, “a mirror of the political, social, and economic make-up of my diplomat parents.”

At the encouragement of his older brother, David enrolled at Reed. “My two years at Reed were years of change and discovery. For someone as naive as I, secluded from society by gated prep schools, the freedom of action, the newly made acquaintance of the other sex, and the involvement of weightier issues all helped to form the person I am today.”

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Posted in: 1950s

John Loeb ’37

November 17, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

John Eric Loeb, 95, of Branford, passed away on October 28, 2014.

He was born August 11, 1919 in New Haven, son of Adeline Klein Loeb and Morton Loeb.

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Rhoda Leshine Loeb and his son Michael (Riva) of Toronto and sister Prudence of Walpole, MA.

John attended Hopkins and Williston Academy. He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College.

He was a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, stationed in Guam. John was an Editor of the Branford Review and President of The Branford Printing Company. He was a member of the Branford Rotary Club and the New Haven and Branford Historical Societies. He was one of the foremost collectors of antique candle snuffers. In his retirement years his primary focus was the development and administration of the Annual Blackstone Library Book Drive. John lived a long, healthy life and shared his intelligence, wit, charm, and good humor with family and friends.

He will be missed.

Posted in: 1930s

Kendall Lewis ’39

November 17, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in: 1930s, Class of 1939

Sylvia Canfield Winn ’49

November 17, 2014 jpilgrim 1 Comment

Sylvia Canfield Winn, 83, of Concord, MA passed away in her sleep on November 3, 2014

Active, vibrant, and expressing everyday appreciations to her family even on her last evening, Sylvia was full of life. People remember her as beautiful, self-deprecating, entertaining, a wonderful listener, graceful, and always elegantly dressed in clothes she made for herself. She was a source of positive energy that drew people to her.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1949

John F. Murphy, Jr. ’47

October 30, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

John F. Murphy, Jr., 87, of Milton, formerly of Northampton, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at the Colonial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Weymouth.

Born March 16, 1927, in Northampton, he was the son of the late John Francis Murphy and Margaret Mary (Hayes) Murphy. He graduated from Northampton High School in 1945 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy the same year. He was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class and received the World War II Victory, American Area and Asiatic Pacific Area medals. He attended Williston Academy and St. Michael’s College from 1947 to 1949. He graduated from Boston College Law School in 1952.

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Posted in: 1940s

Susan Glesmann ’62

October 30, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Susan Jane Glesmann, 69, of Conifer lost her hard-fought battle with brain cancer on Oct. 11, 2014.

Susan was born and raised in Holyoke, Mass. After graduating from Northampton School for Girls in 1962 and receiving a bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts, she moved to Denver to work in the crisis unit at Fort Logan Mental Health Center and in the emergency room at Denver General Hospital as a psychiatric nurse.

Her strongest lifelong passion was the care, protection and support of animals both domestic and wild – the abandoned, starving, mistreated and voiceless among us.

She not only adopted 25 animals but also supported many animal causes, volunteered her time at local shelters such as the Intermountain Humane Society and the Evergreen Animal Protective League, and spent many vacations volunteering at national shelters such as Best Friends and Kindness Ranch. She was an unsung angel to the animal community.

Susan’s survivors include her sister, Carol Baker, and her husband, Peter; her brother, Ted Glesmann, and his wife, Jeanette; and her maternal uncle, Arthur Robertson. She also leaves a very large number of “the best friends ever,” who cared for her tirelessly for the six months during which she suffered.

Susan brought joy to so many and will be remembered for her caring, compassion, thoughtfulness and laughter.

Posted in: 1960s, Class of 1962

John Costello ’41

October 24, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

John Joseph Costello, Jr., 93, formerly of Northford, beloved husband of the late Nancy Gere Costello, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, and dear friend, died peacefully, Sunday, October 19, 2014 at Talmadge Park in East Haven.

John was born October 5, 1921 in Springfield, Mass, a son of the late John J. and Loretta Bradley Costello. He was a graduate of Williston Academy, Easthampton, MA and Syracuse University.

John was a Manufacturer’s Representative working most of his life with scopes, tools, and gun manufacturers.

A life-long member of the NRA, he was an avid sportsman and gun enthusiast. He was an active North Branford Rotarian and for many years an usher at St. Monica Church.

He is survived by a son, John J. Costello, III and his wife Patricia, of Garland, ME; a daughter, Elizabeth C. Buonocore and her husband Gary, of Guilford; five grandchildren, Janette (Todd) Schiavi, Sarah Buonocore, Jason (Dominica) Costello, Sean LeTarte, and Thea (Alan) Douglass, and ten cherished great grandchildren. He also leaves his very special friend and long-time companion, Amellia Zaehringer, of Northford; a brother-in-law, George LeRoy, of Cape Cod, and several nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by a brother, Robert Costello, and a sister, Barbara LeRoy.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1941

Susan Glesmann ’62

October 20, 2014 jpilgrim 5 Comments

Susan Jane Glesmann, 69, of Conifer, Co lost her hard fought battle with brain cancer October 11, 2014.

Susan was born and raised in Holyoke, Ma. the daughter of the late Edward and the late Maryon Glesmann. After graduating from Northampton School for Girls in 1962 and receiving a BS in Nursing from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, she moved to Denver to work at the Crises Unit at Fort Logan Mental Health Center and moved on to Denver General Hospital Er where she worked as a psychiatric nurse for 30 years.

Her lifelong passion was the care, protection and support of animals both domestic and wild….the abandoned, starving, mistreated and voiceless amongst us.

She not only adopted 25 animals over her short life she also financially supported many animal causes, volunteered her time at local shelters such as The Intermountain
Humane Society and the Evergreen Animal Protective League and spent many vacations volunteering at national shelters such as Best Friends and The Kindness Ranch. She was an unsung angel to the animal community and set an example for all by her actions.

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Posted in: 1960s, Class of 1962

Aileen Cramer Katz ’43

October 20, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Aileen G. Katz, age 86, of Tremont Street in Concord died Friday, June 13, 2014, at the Concord Hospital.

She was born in New York, N.Y., on April 19, 1928, daughter of the late Frederick and Elisabeth Cramer. Aileen was a stay-at-home mom while raising her six children.

She is survived by her children, Michael Katz of San Antonio, Texas, James Katz of Bedford, Mass., Deborah Slavitt of Myrtle Beach, S.C., David Katz of Montpelier, Vt., Andrew Katz of Lake-in-the-Hills, Ill., and John Katz of San Francisco; siblings Lillian Randall of Milton, Mass., Erich Cramer of Frederica, Del., Elisabeth Weissbach of Granby, Mass., and John Cramer of Needham Mass.; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943

Nancy Mason Barnes ’43

October 20, 2014 jpilgrim Leave a comment

Nancy (Mason) Barnes, age 88, of Westport, died May 30, 2014.

She was the wife of the late Frederick R. Barnes. Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late Dr. William and Nancy (Campbell) Mason, she spent her youth in Fall River, lived in New York City for several years and Darien, Connecticut for 30 years. She summered in Westport all her life until moving there permanently in 1984.

Mrs. Barnes was an Administrator for Darien High School for 13 years, retiring in 1984. Prior to that she taught pre-school children at several area schools including St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Nursing School.

She was a graduate of Northampton School for Girls and the former Miss Elliotts in Boston.

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Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943