Tag Archives: Williston Academy

Vance E. Boyd ’52

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Vance Boyd, 85, of Fredericksburg, VA, passed away on Monday, September 17, 2018.  Born in Springfield, MA on March 30, 1933, Vance was the son of Samuel and Mary Boyd. A graduate of Williston Academy in Easthampton, Vance attended Babson College in Wellesley and received his B.S. in Business.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1956-1958 as Specialist Third Class in the Quartermaster division.  He was owner/manager of the Bailey Wagner chain of furniture stores in the greater Springfield area, which his father Samuel Boyd founded. He went on to develop the Best Rental furniture rental company.
His passion/hobby included horse training, racing and showing – both Tennessee Walkers and Standardbreds/trotters.  He enjoyed trying to learn new musical instruments and was proud of his steel guitar – he was a student of Billy Cooper of Orange, VA and loved his lessons.  His other love included billiards and he was an avid Patriots’ fan. He founded the Billiards Club of Falls Run upon his retirement to that community.
The wake will be on Friday, September 21, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA. Funeral Mass on Saturday, September 22, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 97 South Street, Jamaica Plain. Prayers shall precede Mass at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Internment will be private and at a later date.

Posted in: 1950s

Kenneth M. Coleburn ’46

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Kenneth Meeker Coleburn died on August 19, 2018, in Redding, Connecticut. He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, on June 22, 1928, the youngest of three children of Kenneth Meeker Coleburn, Sr. and Emily Eleanor Coley Coleburn.

Ken grew up in Norwalk. He attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, Massachusetts. He graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1950.

At Middlebury, Ken met Carolyn Sackett; they married in 1952. They raised their family in Rye, New York, where they lived for 46 years. Ken was a partner and sales manager at Stiles Business Products, selling and maintaining business equipment in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. Ken would say that he drove a car for a living. He knew every mile of those counties, and was appreciated by his customers for his strong handshake and extensive knowledge of his adding machines, calculators, and mailing equipment. Instead of business cards, Ken gave his customers seven-inch rulers printed with his contact information.

Ken and Carolyn moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, in 2000 and then to Meadow Ridge in Redding, Connecticut in 2015.

Some of his favorite hours, from childhood into his seventies, were spent playing tennis with family and friends. While captain of the Middlebury tennis team, and at public courts, Shenorock Shore Club, and Thompson’s Point, Charlotte, Vermont, Ken was well known for both his powerful forehand and his lack of fashion sense on the court. Ken’s talents with a racquet in his hand extended into his 80s. He was still playing, and winning, at ping-pong at 89.

Ken volunteered with Meals on Wheels in both Rye and Ridgefield. He enjoyed bringing good food and good cheer to people who could not shop or prepare food for themselves. He liked to think of his bringing meals to his elderly clients as extending the time they could stay in their own homes by six months. He also volunteered with the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association. He so enjoyed making people happy that after moving to Ridgefield he got a part-time job delivering flowers.

Ken was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He will be remembered by family and friends for his sunny disposition and genuine gratitude for what is good in life.

Ken is survived by his children, William, Jacqueline, Robert, and Carolyn; their spouses, Mary Lou Coleburn, Robert McDonough, Robin Coleburn, and Harry Philbrick; and his four grandchildren, Andrew, Cameron, Kara, and Charlie.

 

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1946

David A. Stewart ’50

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David Andrew Stewart passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on August 5, 2018. He was 87. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was raised on the Gulf Coast in Pass Christian, Mississippi where he was an avid sailor, a passion he held for his entire life. Dave was the youngest child of the late J. Norton Stewart, a commercial illustrator and the late Elizabeth Stewart (Lockett), a writer. After World War II, Dave’s family relocated from Pass Christian to Pelham Manor, New York. David attended Williston Academy in Easthampton, MA and Lehigh University. In 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Point Cruz as quartermaster and signalman during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1953. Dave pursued his love of sailing and went to work for his good friend Bill Luders as an assistant at the Luders Marine Construction Co. in Stanford, Connecticut. David met and married his wife, Flora MacPherson Church from Montreal, Canada in 1962. They settled in Barrington, Rhode Island and David began a long career as the head of his own business, Systematics, Inc. where he designed and built instrumentation systems for the jewelry plating industry. In 1970 Dave was hired as the coordinator for the 12 meter “Intrepid” America’s Cup campaign in Newport, Rhode Island. He was instrumental in Intrepid’s skipper Bill “Ficker is quicker” Ficker’s victory over Gretel II to retain the America’s Cup David was a lifelong member of the New York Yacht Club and a former member of the Barrington Yacht Club. David was predeceased by his older brother, J. Norton Stewart, Jr., a merchant marine who was lost at sea during World War II, and his older sister, Anne (Nancy) Stewart Dana, who passed away earlier this year. He is survived by his wife, Flora, his children, Mary Stewart Gibbs, of Barrington and Sarah Stewart of Brooklyn, CT and grandchildren Flora Gibbs of Walla Walla, WA and Daniel Gibbs of Barrington. David was loved dearly and will be missed by all who knew him.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1950

Edward D. McHugh ’50

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Edward D. McHugh, M.D. of Holyoke, MA, passed away on Friday, August 10, 2018 at Baystate Medical Center. Edward was born in Holyoke, son of the late Catherine “Kay” (Delaney) McHugh and the late Edward J. McHugh, M.D. He was a 1950 graduate of Williston Academy, a 1954 graduate of Dartmouth College, and a 1958 graduate of Georgetown Medical School. Dr. McHugh served in the United States Air Force prior to starting his private practice, which began with a surgical fellowship in New York City. He subsequently worked at Holyoke Hospital, Providence Hospital, where he was Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff, and his own private practice. He was a former communicant of Holy Cross Parish for many years. Dr. McHugh is survived by his wife, Janice C. (Carey) McHugh; three sons: Edward McHugh (’77) of Holyoke, Bruce McHugh (’78) of Snead’s Ferry, N.C., and Michael McHugh (’79) of Littleton, MA; and a brother, David McHugh of Connecticut. He was predeceased by a brother, John McHugh, M.D. in 2010.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1950

James A. Openshaw, Jr. ’51

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James Arnold Openshaw, Jr., 84, of Edinburgh, IN, formerly of Ellicott City, MD, died on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at his home after a long illness.

Born November 14, 1933 in Newport, RI, he was the son of Dorothy Harvest and James Arnold Openshaw. The family moved to Southampton, MA, where he spent his boyhood years. Jim attended the Williston Northampton School, Class of 1951 and was captain of the ski team. He matriculated with the Class of 1955 at Virginia Military Institute and graduated with distinction in civil engineering.

He received a commission in the US Army and was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion (Combat), with duty at Ft. Belvoir, Ft. Benning, Ft. Riley and Verdun, France. He was honorably discharged in 1959 and returned to the DC area with his young family to begin a civilian career in the construction industry.

After several years managing federal building construction projects for the Arthur Venneri Construction Co., he joined Cherry Hill Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. as General Manager and later as President, establishing it as a civil construction business with headquarters in Jessup, MD. He purchased the company in 1978 and changed its name to Cherry Hill Construction, Inc. Under his ownership and leadership, the company flourished and grew to become a major highway and heavy construction contractor in the mid-Atlantic region.

Jim is survived by his wife, Pamela Openshaw, his first wife Barbara Falge Openshaw, his two sisters, Mrs. Walter Findeisen (NSFG ’50) of Killington, VT and Mrs. Benjamin Naylor (NSFG ’56) of Calais, VT, his three sons, James A. Openshaw, III of Norfolk, VA, David B. Openshaw of Annapolis, MD and Mark F. Openshaw of Jacksonville, FL, and his daughter, Ann O. DeLawder of Bel Air, MD. He had 14 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1951

Hubert H. Cadle ’43

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Hubert Haskell Cadle, 93, passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice Home of UNC Health Care in Pittsboro, NC. He was born on April 8, 1925 in Westfield, MA to Hubert Attwater Cadle And Hazel Rust Cadle. He was a U.S. Army veteran and retired as a mechanical engineer from the Naval Training Device Center in Orlando, FL. Hubert was a previous member of Heidelberg United Church of Christ in Thomasville and a present member of United Church of Chapel Hill. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Virginia Trott Royce Cadle on February 13, 2017. Surviving is his son, Robert and his daughters, Barbara and Patricia, two grandsons, and four great-grandchildren.

Posted in: 1940s, Class of 1943

William L. Olds, Jr. ’59

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William Lee Olds Jr., a fourth generation San Franciscan who was a long-time resident of San Francisco died peacefully, July 25, 2018 at the age of 77. William attended Williston Academy before graduating from University of San Francisco.
He is survived by his three children, William Lee Olds III, Helene Hanneken, and Michelle Sauger as well as his son in-law James Sauger, eight grandchildren and his sister Jane Olds Bogart.
He was the President of the William G. Irwin Charity Foundation, a founding Board member of University High School, long time Board member of the San Francisco Humane Society and sat on numerous other non-profit boards. William was also a member of The Olympic Club for 58 years and The Bohemian Club for 48 years, where he was very active in their productions.
He was old school, regal, and selfless in his generosity; never expecting anything in return. William literally lived by the phrase “belt and suspenders,” which is commonly used in finance to describe cautious bankers, or for having redundant safety procedures in place to eliminate risk.
He was prepared, systematic and preserving of the resources he was a steward of, while also known to sport a belt and suspenders in his day to day. He was a voracious reader and a world traveler. He loved to travel on boats and had a passion for the Antarctic after his visit there. He was a true gentleman and will be sorely missed.

Posted in: 1950s, Class of 1959

Joseph Wayland-Smith ’57

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Joseph Wayland-Smith passed away peacefully on July 25, 2018 after a long fought battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Seattle, Washington and lived in Oneida, New York for many years and later retired to Bonita Springs, Florida. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Betty and Jerry Wayland-Smith; sister, Nini Hatcher, brother and sister-in-law, Janny and Bill Rosenberger and brother-in-law, Robert Kopp.

Joe is survived by his loving wife, Ellen, of 53 years, his adoring children, Anne Salerno (Allen Salerno) and Douglas Wayland-Smith (Amy Wayland-Smith), and his cherished grandchildren, Ian Salerno, and Abby and Natalie Wayland-Smith. Joe is also survived by his sister-in-law, Carol Kopp and brother-in-law, Lang Hatcher. In addition, he leaves behind many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Joe graduated from Williston Academy, Syracuse University and Albany Medical School Physicians’ Assistant Program. Joe proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960. He worked for Oneida Limited for many years but his true love was working as a PA in the Emergency Room. Joe had many interests in life. He was a football referee, soccer coach, EMT and a woodworker. He served on the board of the area arts council for many years and various other volunteer organizations.

Joe and Ellen enjoyed their vacations on Nantucket for 25 years surfcasting for blue fish. They also made wonderful memories at their daughter’s cabin in the Adirondacks. Pontoon boat rides and hearing the loons were particularly special to him. Joe and Ellen spent 17 wonderful years in retirement at Worthington Country Club in Florida where they made lasting friendships with folks from various parts of the U.S. and abroad. Joe was interested in the stock market, reading, golf, duplicate bridge and loved being surrounded by his family and friends engaged in conversation and laughter. He will be remembered for his kindness, courage, patience and dedication to helping others.

Posted in: 1950s

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

Edward J. Craig II ’39

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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.

Posted in: 1930s