Obituaries

JOHN H. PURNELL Berlin

John “Jack” H. Purnell was born on the 4th of July on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Jack enjoyed life—a life that included business, international travel, and a devoted love for family and friends.

He died peacefully after a long illness that he endured with remarkable patience and

dignity.

Jack spent his younger years in Long Island, New York, followed by his teens in Beirut, Lebanon, where his father took an overseas assignment. He then returned to the United States and graduated from John’s Hopkins University with a B.S. in chemical engineering and an M.B.A. with distinction from Wharton.

He married Pat, his wife of 56 years, and moved to St. Louis where he was employed with Anheuser-Busch for 36 years.

His many responsibilities included heading Corporate Planning and Development and Anheuser-Busch International, Inc. He served as a member of the Anheuser-Busch Strategy Committee and the Corporate Office.

To borrow a tagline from the company, making friends was his business. He loved to travel, for work or pleasure, and developed solid friendships with his international business associates.

Often, after difficult meetings or negotiations, he defused tensions over dinner with his famous sense of humor, sharing stories and jokes.He was a brilliant negotiator of “the win-win” in business and personal interactions.

During retirement, Jack served on the boards of Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis and Gene Slay’s Boys’ and Girls’ Club of St. Louis. He also worked as an “Executive in Residence” in The John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University, where he advised students and taught a popular class for future marketers.

Jack will be remembered for his positive outlook, mentorship, generosity, kindness, humor, and genuine love for the treasured people in his life. His favorite karaoke song was “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. His way of leading life was a good one.

Along with his wife, Pat, he is survived by his brother, two daughters, and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at 11: a.m. at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin. TYLER GROTON Randallstown

Tyler Groton, 35, died unexpectedly on Oct. 6, 2021, at Northwest Hospital in Randallstown, Maryland. Tyler was born on Feb. 22, 1986, in Salisbury, Maryland, to parents Thomas C. Groton III and Althea Smith Groton. Tyler is survived by his parents, Judge Thomas Groton III and, Althea Smith Groton; and Clay Groton IV (brother), and wife, Melissa, of Cambridge.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, T. Clay Groton, Jr. and Marie Danzeglock Groton, and maternal grandparents, Andrew Custis Smith and Belinda Hill Smith.

He is also survived by an aunt, Lynne Weidner; cousin, Melisa Anne Weidner; niece, Anna Groton; nephew, Adam Groton; aunt, Tish Dryden; uncle, Ray Dryden; cousin, Alex Dryden; and James Price, as well as numerous friends.

Although born in Salisbury, Tyler grew up in Snow Hill. He had been a member of the Nassawango Country Club swim team and later became a certified lifeguard in which capacity he worked for the lower shore YMCA for many years.

He was a member of the Boy Scout Troop 193 in Pocomoke and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Tyler’s Eagle Scout project consisted of building a shelter for homeless cats.

He also participated for a number of years in the gifted and talented writing program. Tyler completed the Crystal Beach Triathlon, placing first in his age group.

After attending Snow Hill elementary and middle school, he graduated from Salisbury Christian School where he whetted his appetite for acting; appearing as “Motel,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and numerous other plays at the school.

He attended Towson University and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors’ Degree in theater. As a theater major at Towson, he appeared in “ Zoo Story,” “Diary of Anne Frank” and “Largo Desolato,” among several others.

He also served on lighting, sound, building, backstage, and costume crews.

Tyler was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

He lived in the Mt. Vernon Section of Baltimore City where he was active with numerous theaters in the area, most prominently the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Continued on Page 55

Tyler Groton

WORLD WAR II

Continued from Page 53 had frozen enough for the German panzers to resume their attack.

On the 27th, the Wehrmacht was able to establish a bridgehead across the Moscow-Volga Canal — the last major obstacle in front of Moscow. They were soon driven back by a Soviet counterattack. Just northwest of the city, the Germans reached Krasnaya Polyana and Khimki, just 18 miles from the Kremlin in the center of Moscow. Off in the distance, the Wehrmacht could see some of the city’s major buildings. This was as close as the Germans would ever get to the city.

By the end of November and into December, the temperature dropped precipitously. Lacking warm clothing and with freezing equipment, the German offensive ground to a halt in front of the stiffening Soviet resistance.

All during this time, the Red Army was building its reserves for a counteroffensive. Acting on intelligence that Japan was not going to mount an attack on the Soviet Far East, Stalin granted Zhukov more than 18 of the best equipped divisions trained to fight in the cold of Siberia. These fresh troops were used to spearhead the upcoming Soviet counteroffensive.

On Dec. 5/6, more than one million Soviet troops, 1,700 tanks and 1,500 aircraft attacked the German front around Moscow. By Jan. 7, 1942, the Soviets had pushed the Germans back 62-155 miles from the city. In frustration, Adolf Hitler sacked many of his top commanders including Heinz Guderian, Field Marshals Bock and Walther von Brauchitsch, the commander-in-chief.

With the collapse of the Soviet front before Moscow in the fall of 1941, it appeared that the Soviet capital would soon fall to the Nazi invaders. Soviet leader Josef Stalin’s decision to remain in Moscow to direct its defense proved to be the correct choice. Next week: Tula

Continued from Page 54

In a memorial, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company indicated “Tyler was a multi-talented artist who worked as an actor, crew member and bartender and as one of our most meticulous and charming house managers. He brightened every room that he entered. Tyler was smart, witty, talented, and full of life. There was no doubt he was attending a show when you heard his infectious laugh.”

He appeared in plays such as “Romeo & Juliet,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead,” “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “The Tempest,” among others.

Upon graduation from Towson University, Tyler was employed by McDonogh School in the theater department. He booked and managed hundreds of events in the Burke Center, Ceres M. Horn Theater, and Klein Lyceum.

The McDonogh School community mourns the sudden death of Tyler Groton, the assistant manager for the Burke Center for the Performing Arts.

Groton joined the McDonogh family as theatre manager in 2011 and quickly became an integral part of the staff and a beloved member of the community.

“Tyler’s presence on campus will be sorely missed. He impacted everyone in one way or another,” says Head of School David J. Farace ‘87. “But it was his connection with kids that made the biggest impression. They appreciated his patience as a teacher and his sense of humor. Tyler loved any excuse to dress up, whether it was Halloween, Spirit Week, or a well-tailored suit for the opening night of a show.”

He brought his expertise and experience to McDonogh where he built sets, designed lighting, operated sound and light equipment, guided the tech and backstage crews, and booked and managed hundreds of events in the Burke Center, Ceres M. Horn Theatre, and Klein Lyceum annually.

Tyler made his directorial debut in 2015, when he guided a group of talented middle school actors in a performance of “The Little Prince.”

Groton said he was attracted to the play because of its large ensemble which makes up the scenery and props that have a constant presence in the story. Tyler had the performers wear LED bracelets so they became stars, literally and figuratively.

“I really wanted everyone on stage to have a purpose and feel that without them the play wouldn’t have been what it was,” he said.

He was most proud of his role in bringing “The Laramie Project” to the McDonogh stage in the fall of 2019. As the director of the play, which details the brutal killing of gay college student Matthew Shepard, Groton said he not only wanted to stretch the actors’ ability with the demanding piece of documentary theater, but he also wanted to foster discussion about the treatment of LGBTQ people.

In a 2020 McDonogh Magazine article, Groton explained that Matthew Shepard’s story resonated with the cast, crew, and the audience of “The Laramie Project” well after the final bow, “I love when a show has an emotional impact, when it doesn’t leave you at the curtain call, when you go home and are still thinking about it,” he said. “I love when it starts conversations and brings up things that maybe you couldn’t do in another medium.”

Indeed, the play served as a catalyst for conversation about how people speak to each other, treat each other, and view each other.

Farace, who played the role of Shepard’s father in “The Laramie Project,” says, “I had the unique opportunity to be directed by Tyler. I learned so much through that experience—beyond acting skills. I am so grateful that he had the opportunity to bring this meaningful play to the stage.”

When the covid-19 pandemic hit, Groton and his colleagues quickly pivoted and became experts in coordinating webinars and virtual events.

During the 2020-2021 school year, he helped guide members of the Upper School Theatre Lab through “Zoomicals: The Musicals,” a weekly virtual opportunity designed to keep students engaged in theatre, and “She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms,” an online production that takes place in a virtual world.

“Tyler’s presence in the arts community was incredibly impactful. Students loved him because he treated them like people—never talking down to them. Colleagues loved him because he had the unique ability to make you feel seen and respected while not compromising his own identity and big personality,” recalls Kara Zimmerman, director of Fine and Performing Arts. “His laugh could make even the most stoic person smile. He will be forever missed.”

Tyler was proudly an organ donor.

A graveside funeral service will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at 11 a.m. at All Hallows Episcopal Cemetery in Snow Hill. Friends may call at the Burbage Funeral Home 208 W. Federal Street in Snow Hill from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to the Tyler C. Groton Memorial Fund at McDonogh School. Gifts will be used to support the theater program. The McDonogh School address is: 8600 McDonogh Rd, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117.

Letters of condolence can be made to the family via burbagefuneralhome.com.

EDWARD BENZ Ocean Pines

On Aug. 11, 2021, we unexpectedly lost our dear father, Edward Benz, 78, of Ocean Pines, Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara Benz, and is dearly missed by his children, Michelle (Danny) Everett, Edward (Jill) Benz, Dean Marra and Lori (Tedd) Virnig; grandchildren, Courtney, Colin, Amber, Andrew, Alyssa, Logan and Levi; and great-grandchildren, Michaela, Greyson and Cendall. Ed was the son of the late Dr. George and Mary Kreh Benz of Pittsburgh; brother of late George (Joanne) Benz, Joseph (Heidi) Benz, Dr. Henry (Carol) Benz, Trudy (John) Biddle, William (Sharon) Benz, Brenda Benz, James (Sue) Benz, and Dr. Thomas (Renee) Benz; brother-in-law, late Edward Schmidt; and uncle to dozens of nieces and nephews.

Ed thrived as a chemical and nuclear engineer in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, DC areas.

He proudly graduated from Carnegie Tech and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant from the US Army following a tour in Vietnam.

Ed, a devout Catholic, read his Bible daily, and was a member of St. John Neumann parish. He enjoyed playing bridge and following the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at 11 a.m. at St John Neumann Catholic Church near Ocean Pines. Interment will be private for the family.

Edward Benz