Tag Archives: Class of 1948

David K. Conner ’48

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David Knox Conner 91, of Westhampton, MA, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at Care One of Northampton after an illness. He was born in Easthampton on September 11, 1928, the son of Alfred J. Conner and Isabel Knox Conner. He was a bright student educated at Easthampton Schools, Williston Academy, and Holyoke Community College. He was called to serve in the US Army during the Korean Conflict in 1952 and was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged four years later. He was a 60 year member of the American Legion.

For many years “Dave” managed and frequently drove for the former Easthampton – Springfield – Northampton Express, a family trucking business started by his father, until it ceased operation. During his later life he drove for 11 years with Highland Valley Elder services “Meals on Wheels’ Program delivering to area homebound seniors. He also held jobs at Ames Department store and Big Y Bakery in Southampton.

David was licensed as a self-employed Real Estate Agent for a period of time, and was the buyer for the gift and import shop “Suzannes” formerly located on Green Street in Northampton Ma. He and his wife Priscilla owned and operated the store for a number of years until her illness forced its closure. They had many contacts and friends within the Smith College Community. They enjoyed traveling to Maine in the summers, their books, music, an active social life, sharing their home with a number of adopted rescue dogs over the years.

David was predeceased by his beloved wife Priscilla Skinder Conner (2006). He is survived by one brother, Robert G. Conner, and three nephews: Thomas Conner and Charles Conner of Easthampton, and Richard Conner of Northampton.

At David’s request, there are no formal services. A private Celebration of Life reception will be held at Westhampton Woods Community Room in March 2020.

The burial is private, at Brookside Cemetery at the convenience of the family. Mitchell Funeral Home of Easthampton is in charge of arrangements. David donated to a number of organizations in his lifetime. Donations in David’s memory may be made to : Dakin Animal Shelter, Highland Valley Elder Services Meals on Wheels program, or the Wounded Warrior Project.

 

Posted in: 1940s

Stanley L. Gedney III ’48

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Stanley L. Gedney III, Age 90, of Pearl River, NY passed away on January 9, 2020 in Saddle River, NJ.

Ganz (his nickname bestowed in childhood by his sisters) was born in Orange, NJ to Marion and Stanley L. Gedney, Jr. on February 12, 1929. He attended Clifford Scott High School in East Orange, NJ before graduating from Williston Academy in Massachusetts in 1948. He went on to earn a B.A. from Lehigh University and graduated in 1952. Throughout his academic career, his true love was athletics. He was a gifted athlete and a true three season standout in football, basketball and baseball. One of his most treasured memories was being a member of the 1950 undefeated Lehigh Football team. Included in this great season and the one that followed were dominating wins over Lafayette College.

After graduation, he served his country in the 101st Airborne and ultimately in the Counter-Intelligence Corps of the Army during the Korean War. After the war, he worked in sales for many years starting at Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation before finding his avocation doing estate planning at New York Life from which he retired at the age of 65. He then went on to deliver flowers for Johnston’s Florist in Dobbs Ferry, NY delighting many customers across Westchester County with his singular rendition of Happy Birthday until he was 88 and health issues caused his second retirement.

An active member and VP and President of the Hendrick Hudson (District 3) School Board for many years, his real passion was working with youth baseball. He was instrumental in forming a succession of teams that brought competitive baseball to the Town of Cortlandt for youngsters after Little League. These teams participated and excelled at the Babe Ruth, American Legion and semi-pro levels.

Memorial donations may be made to Good Samaritan Hospital, 255 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901 to which the family is eternally grateful for their warmth and compassion during his final days. A private funeral service was held. A celebration of his life will be held in February. Suffice it to say that this was a man who lived for his loved ones. All of us who loved him were loved back immeasurably by this very special man. As he said many times to each of us – “I love you more than you know.” We were blessed to have him in our lives and are happy and grateful that he has found peace while he lives on in our hearts and memories.

Posted in: 1940s

Barbara Seabury Engel ’48

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Barbara “Bobi” Seabury Engel, age 89, passed away April 12, 2019 in Naples, Florida. Bobi was born on February 9, 1930 in Springfield, MA. She was the daughter of Raymond M. Seabury of Longmeadow, MA and Laura Barker of Newport, RI. Bobi was predeceased by her sister Margaret (Seabury) Lyman, her brother Raymond Seabury, Jr., her daughter Cynthia Engel and her grandson, Joshua Sasen. Bobi is survived by her husband, Dr. N. Eugene “Gene” Engel. She is also survived by her sons Phillip Johnson of Salem, MA, David Engel of Easley, South Carolina, Donald Engel and his wife Donna of Naples, FL; her daughters Laura Lovell and her husband Ross of East Haddam, CT, Christine Sasen of Springfield, Carolyn Brennan and her husband Thomas of Wilbraham and Zandra Engel of Agawam, MA; ten grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. Bobi grew up in Longmeadow. She was a resident of Wilbraham and Brewster before moving to Naples, FL in 1995. Bobi attended the Northampton School for Girls and the House in the Pines Junior College majoring in Art History. Bobi was a former member of the Junior League of Springfield, the Dennis Yacht Club of E. Dennis and the League Club of Naples. Bobi served as the Director of Youth Programs for both the Wilbraham United Church and the Dennis Yacht Club. Bobi was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an avid bridge player, loved to dance, athlete, painter, craft lady, dramatist and had her most fun as a puppeteer. Bobi and her husband Gene were blessed to travel throughout the world after retirement. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 20th at Bethlehem Church, 123 Allen St., Hampden, MA. There will be a private burial service. Memorial donations in Bobi’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or at www.alz.org

Posted in: 1940s

Melvin J. Tucker ’48

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Melvin J. Tucker, of Amherst, NY, a professor emeritus at the University at Buffalo who specialized in English Tudor history, died Feb. 15, 2019 in Hospice Buffalo, Cheektowaga. He was 87.

Born March 3, 1931 in Easthampton, Mass., he was a 1948 graduate of Williston Academy in Easthampton, which he attended on scholarship. He also received scholarships to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1953.

He completed a master’s degree in history from the University of Massachusetts in 1954, then served for two years as an Air Force lieutenant in Japan, taking courses at Sophia University in Tokyo.

He went on to receive his doctorate in history from Northwestern University in 1962, having studied with two masters in the field – Lacy Baldwin Smith at Northwestern and S.T. Bindoff, his mentor at Queens College, University of London, which he attended under a Fulbright scholarship in 1958-59.

While completing his doctorate, he taught European history at Colby College and humanities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then joined the UB faculty in 1963 as an assistant professor of English and European history. He became an associate professor in 1966, was director of graduate studies in the History Department from 1979 to 1985, and retired in 2005.

His landmark research into Tudor poet John Skelton, published in 1969, determined that Skelton’s most famous work, “The Garland of Laurel,” was written much earlier than previously thought – in the 1490s, not the 1520s – and as a result, the noblewomen mentioned in it had been incorrectly identified.

His first book, “The Life of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and Second Duke of Norfolk, 1443-1524,” published in 1964, was cited by author Richard Marius for the help it provided in writing his definitive biography of Sir Thomas More.

Dr. Tucker helped pioneer the study of childhood throughout history, teaching a popular seminar on the subject and contributing a chapter, “The Child as Beginning and End: 15th and 16th Century English Childhood,” in the 1974 book, “The History of Childhood.”

He also was an early practitioner of meditation and co-authored a book, “Centering: Your Guide to Inner Growth,” with Saunders G. Laurie in 1978.

He was the author of more than 100 book reviews, mostly for the library journal, Choice. Others appeared in the American Historical Review, Albion, Cithra, Journal of Modern History, Renaissance Quarterly and Speculum.

He received numerous academic honors, research grants and fellowships.

He was a contributing editor for History of Childhood Quarterly and The Journal of Psychohistory. He also was a council member for the Association for Bibliography of History.

His family noted that he had a passion for teaching. They said he let his students rewrite papers for better grades and was happy to discover that renowned economist and management expert Peter Drucker did so, too.

His wife of 59 years, the former N. Evelyn “Lynn” Rapalus, who worked in the Personnel Department at Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center, died in 2012.

Survivors include two daughters, Ann Tucker-Jobson and Ellen Tucker-Cohen; a son, Michael; five grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd., Town of Tonawanda.

Posted in: 1940s

Reginald L. Sylvester ’48

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Reginald (Reg) Latimer Sylvester of Auckland, New Zealand, formerly of St. George’s, Bermuda passed away on July 7, 2017 at 87 years of age in Auckland, New Zealand.

Born in Bermuda in 1930, Reg lived and was educated in Bermuda before his family sent him overseas to the US to attend Williston Northampton School to finish the last few years of his school education. He was on the soccer, swimming and tennis teams, an active member of the Radio Club and graduated as a member of the Cum Laude Society in 1948. Reg’s time at Williston was a very special time in his life, he always talked frequently of it and he made a number of lifelong friendships and even attended a few reunions, flying in from New Zealand.

Reg was interested in pursuing a future as an aeronautical engineer and it was perhaps his greatest regret following his success at Williston that he was not able to attend university to pursue this future however, the economic situation of post war Bermuda put a serious damper on his aspirations. He returned to Bermuda to pursue a future in accounting with Esso Standard Oil in Bermuda.

In the mid 1950s Reg met his Irish wife Nancy, a nurse, recently moved to Bermuda with a number of her friends. They married and had two daughters in the 1960s. During this time he had a posting to the Caribbean area but later left ESSO because he did not enjoy the significant travel required with a young family. He then worked for the British Overseas Airways Corporation in Bermuda, which later became British Airways.

In 1970, at a time when Bermuda was undergoing significant political upheaval Reg moved his young family to New Zealand. For a Bermuda island boy this was a huge decision taking him far from his friends and family.

Reg had an interest in amateur (HAM) radio and the family recalls many nights hearing the dots and dashes as he developed his Morse Code skills and the crackle of the radio as he communicated with people all over the world. He had a room full of HAM radio equipment and it was only in the last 5 years that he took down the huge aerial in the backyard and packed away his radio equipment.

He was a very keen gardener and spent his spare time if not on the HAM radio, then in the garden. His family had an endless supply of beautiful roses, homegrown vegetables, citrus fruit, apples, plums and fejoas which he grew so much of that he bagged and delivered a great amount of his produce to the neighbors.

Regardless of the 47 years that he spent in New Zealand, Bermuda was always in his heart, and his true home. Following a service in New Zealand, his ashes were brought back to Bermuda. As he requested, a memorial service and interment of his ashes was (recently) held at the St Peter’s Church Cemetery followed by a Masonic tribute. A bagpiper played Scottish music on the hill above the grave.

Reg is survived by his wife Nancy in New Zealand and his two daughters Lee and Shauna and grandchildren Keagan and Fallon Woolley in Bermuda.

 

Posted in: 1940s

Martha Peck Burgess ’48

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Martha (Mardy) Burgess, age 86, of Annapolis, MD, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 10, 2018, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Mardy was born May 24,1931 to George Francis Peck and Edith Gertrude Peck in Scranton, PA. She married Newton A. Burgess in 1952, and from that union she was blessed with her beloved children Cynthia and Kenneth.

Dr. Burgess received her PhD and Masters degrees in Education from the Union Institute in 1993 and BA from Middlebury College in 1952.

In 1976 she met Albert Brown, the love of her life. Initially, they resided in Bethesda, MD, and then moved to Baywoods of Annapolis. They shared many interests and traveled extensively throughout their lives together.

She used her interests in the environment, conflict resolution, science, and spirituality to make the world a better place. She was a dynamic member of Annapolis Friends Meeting and an active member of her Baywoods community.

Mardy is survived by her devoted life partner Albert Brown, her daughter Cynthia Cosbey (Steve); son Kenneth Burgess, stepsons Geoffrey Brown (Patria) and Michael Brown, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s

John P. S. Handy ’48

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John Peter Stone Handy passed away on May 25, 2017. Beloved husband of the late Marcia Steiner Handy, dear father of Linda H. Morehead (Scott A.), John K. Handy (Cynthia S.), grandfather of Lauren C. Handy, Christopher S. Handy, Caroline F. Morehead, William K. Morehead, brother-in-law of Nancy S. Sheridan, dear friend of Mildred A. Moulder, and friend to all. After graduating from Bowdoin College, Jack served in the Korean War and received the National Defense Intelligence Service medal. After the war, he traveled extensively in Asia working for Monsanto. Upon returning home, Jack worked as a sales executive in the plastic industry for more than 50 years, eventually starting his own company. He loved spending time and traveling with his grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s

Alan W. Waite, Jr. ’48

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Alan Whittlesey Waite, 91, passed away on November 21, 2017 at his home in West Hartford, CT. He was born the son of Alan Whittlesey Waite Sr. and Marjorie Osborn Waite. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Sara Johnson Waite, and sister Ruth Waite Jordan. He is survived by a son, Peter Whittlesey Waite, daughter- in-law Donna Stewart Waite and two beloved grandchildren, Dylan Whittlesey Waite and Courtney Stewart Waite. Alan was born and raised in West Hartford, attended Sedgwick Middle school, Williston Academy, and graduated with a B.S. from the University of Connecticut. Alan and his family moved to Rochester, New York, where he was employed by Aetna Life & Casualty as a senior liability and bond claims adjuster. They remained there for over forty years, participating in community activities and making many friends. Over the course of his life, Alan was dedicated to public service. Beginning in World War II when he did his part with the US Navy during World War II, to being a volunteer fireman, boy scout leader, a certified EMT, active in his Church, and finally, an enthusiastic member of a Habitat for Humanity team. After retiring from Aetna, Alan and Sara returned to West Hartford where they were able to reunite with family, revive old relationships, but most of all, be part in their grandchildren’s lives. While Alan should be remembered for his community service, it was in his roles as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, as a reliable coworker, and loyal friend that those close to him will hold dearest. The family would like to extend gratitude to Gail Porter for taking such good care of Alan in his final weeks.

 

Posted in: 1940s

Robert B. Doolittle ’48

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Robert Burt Doolittle passed away peacefully at home on October 11, 2017. He was eighty-seven. Robert was born on March 23, 1930, in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended Roger Ludlow High School in Fairfield, Connecticut for two years. Then, in 1945, he became a student at Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts where he was active in sports and captain of the hockey team. He graduated from Williston in 1948. Robert attended both the University of Vermont and the University of Bridgeport, before he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1950. While in the Coast Guard, he was stationed in Groton, Connecticut. After completing his military service, Robert attended Quinnipiac University, in Hamden, Connecticut, and graduated with an accounting degree. After he passed the State of Connecticut Certified Public Accountant exam he worked as a public accountant at Byxbee Company in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1960, Robert moved from New Haven, Connecticut to Glastonbury, Connecticut and worked as Financial Analyst at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, and later as Senior Financial Analyst at United Technologies, Inc. in Hartford. After retiring in 1987, Robert studied fine woodworking at Leeds School of Design in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he devoted his time to the art of furniture making and finishing. In 1996, he left Glastonbury, Connecticut and moved to Ormond Beach, Florida, where he lived for the rest of his life. Robert leaves behind his wife Elaine Whiteman Doolittle (Pat) of nearly sixty-five years, his brother Charles King Doolittle ’50 (Chas) of Auburn, California, his sons Robert Monroe Doolittle (Rob) and Rob’s wife Laurie, Charles Henry Doolittle (Chuck) and Chuck’s wife Karen, and his daughter Elizabeth Louise Doolittle (Beth). He leaves behind seven grandchildren, Sarah Lund, Ross Monroe, Erin Louise, Sydney Francis, Lexi Kate, Beatrice Georgiana and Michael Eden, and poodle Dorie.

Posted in: 1940s