WESTMINSTER
| SPRING 2009
| BULLETIN
In Memoriam 1939 James Q. Rice III of West
Hartford, Conn., passed away on Sept. 20, 2008. Jim grew up on a tobacco farm in Bloomfield. Conn., before moving to Hartford and then Essex, during his teenage years. He started college at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. World War II interrupted his education, and he joined the U.S. Coast Guard as a member of its Picket Patrol, otherwise known as the “Canvas Hangers.” Jim served on the converted yawl Thistle listening for German submarines in the North Atlantic before returning to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he was trained as an officer. He then served as an officer aboard the destroyer escort Forsyth. After the war, Jim resumed his education and graduated from New Haven College. He applied his engineering degree at various firms in the Hartford area including United Aircraft and Hartford Steam Boiler. He was a certified public accountant and partnered with Adam Rhodes to start the accounting firm Rhodes, Rice & Company in Hartford. He was an active member of the Exchange Club and the Hartford Golf Club. Jim met his wife, Norma Gentle, at a ski instructor seminar. They passed their love of skiing down to their children and their grandsons through their affiliations over the years with the Newington Ski Club and the Hartford Ski Club. Jim also loved cruising and racing with Norma on their Tartan 30 sailboat named Wild Rice. He was an active member of the Essex Yacht Club,
Baldwin Yacht Club and the Off Soundings Club. Jim is survived by his wife of 46 years, Norma C. Rice; his son James Q. Rice IV; daughter, Prudence G. Rice; and three grandsons.
1944 Robert Ellis Redfern of
Madison, Conn., passed away on April 27, 2008. He lived in White Plains, N.Y., for 30 years, before moving to Madison, the home where his grandfather was born. Bob was a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II and later graduated from Yale University. Before retiring in 1990, he worked for Merrill Lynch for more than 25 years. He was a former governor and longtime member of the Madison Beach Club. He was also a member of the Madison Country Club, the Larchmont Yacht Club, the Storm Trysail Club, and was a director of the Madison Historical Society and the Deacon John Grave House. He was an active community volunteer, a sailing instructor at the Mystic Seaport and a driver for Madison Community Service. Bob is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lois DuPuy Redfern; three children, Robert Redfern, Jr., Nancy Redfern and Sally Redfern; two stepchildren, Susan Nathan and Lynn Patrisi; three grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. George Anthony Trainor, 84, of Edgewater, Fla., died on June 21, 2008, in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. He was born in Highland Park, Mich., son of the late George and Eva (Whittey) Trainor, and had lived in Weatogue, Conn., prior to
moving to Edgewater, Fla., 11 years ago. George was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army. He worked as an electrical engineer at Chandler-Evans, West Hartford, Conn., for many years prior to his retirement. He was also a member of the VFW, the American Legion, the Moose Lodge, and the Elks Lodge. He enjoyed antique cars and his beloved pets. George is survived by his fiancée, Sylvia A. Masgay; his sister, Marie Corr; a nephew, William Corr and his wife, JoAnne; a niece, Cynthia Bushey and her husband Steven; and three grandnephews. Lloyd Wilbur Wise, Jr. of Basking Ridge, N.J., died on July 25, 2008. He graduated from Yale University and served in the Navy during World War II. Lloyd was a member of the Yale Club of New York and the Garden City Golf Club, as well as president of the Lloyd W. Wise Lumber Company in New York. Lloyd leaves his wife of 55 years, Alice Walker Wise; three children, Peter Wise, Alice Dew and Edward Wise; and eight grandchildren.
1947 Thomas Arthur Johnson, Jr., a long-time Dutchess
County businessman, sportsman and Republican leader, died on July 13, 2008. A graduate of Nichols Junior College, Tom went on to become the owner and president of the J.D. Johnson Company, a family plumbing, heating and air conditioning supply house, which had branches in four states. Following his
retirement in 1989, he began the redevelopment of the large J.D. Johnson warehouse property in Poughkeepsie, which later became Dooley Square. Tom was a horseman, a golfer, a hunter and a bridge player, as well as an active Republican, who served on many committees. Former classmate John Rigby said that he played football with Tom and that Tom played with a lot of determination and grit and spirit. He was very dedicated to the game. Tom even won a tackling trophy at one point. Tom is survived by his wife of 26 years, Kathleen Merrins Johnson; two daughters; two stepchildren; and several grandchildren.
1949 The Rev. John P. Bartholomew, dean emeritus of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Hastings, Neb., died on July 12, 2008. He was 77. Bart graduated from Cornell University as a history major. Following a tour of duty in the Army as a battalion adjutant, with the 2nd Armored Division in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, he began studies for the priesthood at the Philadelphia Episcopal Divinity School. Following his ordination, he was curate at the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, Pa., from 1958 to 1961; rector at St. James Church in Piqua, Ohio, from 1961 to 1967; and rector of St. Thomas Church in Garden City, Kan., from 1967 to 1973. On Jan. 15, 1973, Rev. Bartholomew was elected the ninth dean of St. Mark’s Cathedral in Hastings, Neb. He served for 25 years, the longest tenure in the church’s
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