IN MEMORIAM

The section was updated June 30, 2021. Please note that deaths are reported as we receive notice of them. Therefore, alumni dates of death are not always reported chronologically.

1944 — Charles McIlvaine Kinsolving, Jr.

April 11, 2021

1947 — Charles W.H. Dodge

April 8, 2021

1948 — John Palmer Bankson, Jr.

June 25, 2021

1948 — Oliver “Ollie” Wolcott, Jr.

April 10, 2021

1949 — Leonard “Sandy” Davey, Jr.

April 2, 2021

1950 — Peter Oddleifson

March 18, 2021

1952 — William Seabury “Breezy” Reid

April 11, 2021

1953 — Gerald B. Church

April 9, 2021

1954 — Thomas Robson Carper

June 9, 2021

1954 — Duncan Whiteside

June 10, 2021

1955 — Ethan Emery

April 2, 2021

1959 — Douglas Carroll Burkhardt

April 13, 2021

1959 — Bradford Chadbourne Taylor

February 3, 2021

1960 — Joseph W. “Joe” Mechem

May 18, 2021

1962 — Nathaniel Cameron Bradley

February 17, 2021

1964 — David Huntington Williams

April 16, 2021

1969 — Fraser “Bryan” Wilkins

May 19, 2021

1971 — Howland Donaldson Murphy

May 6, 2021

1979 — Sarah Bankson Newton

May 2, 2021

1981 — Andrew Reed Sutherland

May 10, 2021

FORMER FACULTY

Thaddeus Edmund Beck, Jr.

March 22, 2021

David Newman

June 4, 2021

1941

Maxwell M. Belding

a loving father, who generously gave his time to various causes and nonprofits, died on Nov. 22, 2020. He was 89 years old and a resident of Essex, Connecticut.

Mr. Belding was born on March 30, 1922, the son of Helen and Frederick Belding (Form of 1905). His grandfather owned the Belding Silk Thread Mill, which was part of the once-thriving textile industry in Rockville.

Mr. Belding arrived at SPS as a Third Former in the fall of 1936 and, during his time at the School, he was a member of the Library Association, Acolyte’s Guild, and the Missionary Society. He rowed and played ice hockey and squash.

Following SPS, Mr. Belding enrolled at Yale University, graduating in 1944. During his distinguished career, he was chairman of Equity Ventures, Inc., a real estate development firm. He lived with his wife, Ruth, in Old Lyme, Connecticut, where the couple raised their daughters, Ruth ’74 and Roxanne.

Mr. Belding also served on several boards, including Hartford College for Women, Hartford Ballet Company, Horace Bushnell Memorial Hall Corp., and the Connecticut Housing Investment Fund. He was also treasurer of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. His philanthropic activities included the Yale Community Rowing program, Yale fellowships and awards, the Hartford Stage, and the 906-seat Maxell M. and Ruth R. Belding Theater at Bushnell Park in Hartford.

Mr. Belding’s generosity extended to land conservation. In the early 1980s, he donated 282 acres in Vernon, Connecticut, to the state. In 2005, Mr. Belding and his daughter, Ruth, established a charitable trust to manage and preserve the property for the state, and at a dedication ceremony, Connecticut officials christened the land the Belding Wildlife Management Area.

Following the passing of his wife, Ruth, in 2001, Mr. Belding married Sally Newell, and the couple enjoyed 17 happy years together until her death in 2019.

Mr. Belding is survived by his daughters, Ruth Belding Nardini ’74 and Roxanne Keyser, and four stepchildren, Sally Huss, Helen Douglas, Katherine Newell, and William Newell. 1942 George Sargent Grove a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy, a devoted volunteer for St. Paul’s School, and a cherished family member and friend, died on Feb. 21, 2021. He was 96 and a resident of Newbury, Vermont.

1942

George Sargent Grove

a retired Captain in the U.S. Navy, a devoted volunteer for St. Paul’s School, and a cherished family member and friend, died on Feb. 21, 2021. He was 96 and a resident of Newbury, Vermont.

Mr. Grove was born in York, Maine, on Sept. 29, 1924, the son of George W. Grove and Barbara Sargent Grove. He enrolled at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1938 from New Canaan Country School. At SPS, Mr. Grove played football, hockey, and baseball for Isthmian. He was a member of the Rifle Club, the Missionary Society, the Cadmean/Concordian Literary Society, and the Athletic Association.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis with his B.S. in 1946 and spent 30 distinguished years as an officer in the Navy, serving during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After retiring in 1976, he worked as a corporate and regional facilities manager with three high-tech companies in Silicon Valley: Intel (1976-84), Xebec (1984-85), and Sun Microsystems (1985-92).

He was married for 20 years to his first wife, Marilisse Dean, with whom he had two children, Leslie and Loring. They traveled as a family for military duty, including stints in Newport, Rhode Island; Charleston, South Carolina; Yokosuka, Japan; and Long Beach and La Jolla, California. Most of their family years were spent in Newport, where Mr. Grove taught leadership at Officer Candidate School and attended the U.S. Naval War College. After a divorce in 1973, he remarried in 1982 to Patricia “Tish” McCabe and helped raise Tish’s daughter, Brita, through her high school and college years.

Mr. Grove was a dedicated alumnus of St. Paul’s, serving the School as form agent (1976-79), main agent (1992-2019), form director (1997-2019), and as the executive director of the Alumni Association (1992-96). He was also a member of the Hargate Society, including the School in his estate plans. Mr. Grove was involved in his community as a board member of the Upper Valley Land Trust and West Newbury (Vermont) Congregational Church, and as treasurer of the Bradford Community Club. He was beloved by his vast circle of friends and family.

He is survived by his daughters, Leslie Grove and Loring Grove; his stepdaughter, Brita Strandberg; his daughter-in-law, Laurel Lea; his sister, Barbara K. Griffin; his sisterin-law, Sheila Grove; and many nieces and nephews, including Cynthia S. Ferris ’82 and Barbara G. Cole ’78. He was predeceased by his brother, Michael M. Grove; his sister, Anne L. Turner; and his son-in-law, Allan Viges.

1944

Charles McIlvaine Kinsolving, Jr.

who for decades was a part of the political, cultural, and intellectual life of his native New York City, died on April 11, 2021. He was 94 years old and will be remembered as a humanitarian, charming raconteur, club man, and provocateur.

Born on Jan. 27, 1927, Mr. Kinsolving was the son of Charles and Natalie Kinsolving. He arrived at SPS in the fall of 1940 as a Third Former. He was a member of the Acolyte’s Guild, the Cadmean/Concordian Literary Society, Le Cercle Français, the Propylean Literary Society, and the Debate Team. He was involved in theatre and served as editor of Horae Scholasticae. Mr. Kinsolving played baseball, hockey, tennis, and squash for Old Hundred.

Following St. Paul’s, Mr. Kinsolving attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in political science. He later did graduate work at Harvard, Columbia, and the Sorbonne.

Mr. Kinsolving began his career in advertising in the 1950s, first at Young & Rubicam and later at McCann Erickson. Starting in 1960, he worked for the Newspaper Advertising Bureau for more than 25 years.

In 1966, he became vice president for marketing and planning. With his extroversion, imagination, and broad vision, he advised advertisers on a variety of marketing issues, particularly as they pertained to travel, leisure, and areas of financial and public opinion.

Concurrently, Mr. Kinsolving became involved in New York City politics. Beginning in 1950, he was an organizer for the Reform Democrats in Manhattan. His involvement in politics came from a profound altruism, often masked by an acerbic wit. He was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, Averell Harriman, and other left-leaning luminaries, all of whom he knew.

Mr. Kinsolving’s political work also included managing the campaigns of Herman Badillo for mayor of New York, Paul O’Dwyer for U.S. Senate, and Carol Greitzer for City Council. He was a delegate from New York at the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention, supporting Eugene McCarthy for president. He also was a long-serving member and chairman of Manhattan’s Community Board 6.

In 1962, Mr. Kinsolving married the former Coral Eaton. Coral was a great partner and shared his interest in politics. After her death, Mr. Kinsolving married Jolie Hammer, whom he had met on Community Board 6. She died in 1995. Three years later, he married Jacqueline Vogelstein, with whom he traveled extensively around the world in his retirement. She predeceased him in 2008.

Mr. Kinsolving is survived by his older brother, Lucien Kinsolving; his niece, Lucie Kinsolving, and her husband, Richard McElhiney; his niece, Katharine Kinsolving, and her husband, Richard Baumann; three grandnephews; and one grandniece. 1945 John A. Ramsdell a surgeon, military veteran, and committed community servant, died on Feb. 9, 2021, one month shy of his 94th birthday.

1945

John A. Ramsdell

a surgeon, military veteran, and committed community servant, died on Feb. 9, 2021, one month shy of his 94th birthday.

John A. Ramsdell Dr. Ramsdell was born in New York City on March 25, 1927, the son of the late Edwin G. Ramsdell, also a physician, and Bessie S. Ramsdell. He enrolled at St. Paul’s School as a First Former in the fall of 1939. At SPS, he sang in the Choir and Glee Club, was a member of the Missionary Society and Der Deutsche Verein, was a coxswain for Halcyon, and competed in hockey with Delphian. He graduated as a Fifth Former in 1944 and entered Yale that fall. Throughout his life, Dr. Ramsdell shared happy memories of playing hockey on the pond at SPS, and his time at the School remained important to him.

In early 1945, Dr. Ramsdell took a leave of absence from Yale and enlisted in the U.S. Army on his 18th birthday. He served in the Finance Corps and was stationed in Europe for two years during and after World War II, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant (T). After returning from service, Dr. Ramsdell completed his B.A. in economics at Yale. He earned his M.D. from Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1954 and completed his internship at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. He went on to complete a fellowship in surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During his fellowship, Dr. Ramsdell also earned a Master of Science in surgery from the University of Minnesota in 1959. After completing his fellowship, he served as assistant to staff at the Mayo Clinic before returning to White Plains in 1960.

Dr. Ramsdell became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1964. During his career as a practicing surgeon, he was an attending surgeon at White Plains Hospital and the former St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains; a consulting surgeon at New York Hospital, Westchester Division, White Plains; and consulting surgeon at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, White Plains.

Dr. Ramsdell and his wife, Barbara, were married for more than 65 years and dedicated their lives to each other, their family, and their White Plains community. They joined in many civic activities from the time they settled there in 1960 to raise their family. Dr. Ramsdell represented the fourth generation of his family in medical practice in the city. His father was also a general surgeon of 50 years affiliated with White Plains Hospital.

Dr. Ramsdell’s avocation was community involvement. He served White Plains Hospital in various positions, including chief of staff, president of medical and dental staff, and on the board of directors. He also served as president of the Medical Society of Westchester County and the Westchester Surgical Society and was chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of the Westchester Visiting Nurse Association, among many other volunteer posts. Dr. Ramsdell supported the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester on the board of directors for more than 50 years and as chairman for three terms. He also represented the YMCA of the USA. He served on the YMCA International (Outreach) Committee as member and chairman and in various board roles. The YMCA honored him with the World Fellowship Award in 1991 and the Walter Murphy Volunteer Leadership Award in 2000.

Dr. Ramsdell was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of White Plains, serving a term as president, and was the honoree of a dinner benefiting the Cancer Center at White Plains Hospital. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and lived the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

In his free time, Dr. Ramsdell enjoyed playing tennis and bridge with friends and reading historical novels and thrillers.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; their children, Pamela Mitchell, Sadler Ramsdell ’77, and Peter Ramsdell; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brother, Edwin A. Ramsdell ’42. 1947 Charles W.H. Dodge an avid outdoorsman and loving husband and father, died peacefully, surrounded by his immediate family, on April 8, 2021. He was 91 years old and a resident of Gorham, Maine.

1947

Charles W.H. Dodge

an avid outdoorsman and loving husband and father, died peacefully, surrounded by his immediate family, on April 8, 2021. He was 91 years old and a resident of Gorham, Maine.

Mr. Dodge was born on July 23, 1929, in Rockport, Maine, the son of Donald D. and Gertrude H. Dodge. He grew up in Philadelphia, where he began his education at Chestnut Hill Academy. Mr. Dodge arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Second Former in the fall of 1942, following in the footsteps of his brother, Donald Dodge ’41.

At SPS, Mr. Dodge was a member of Der Deutsche Verain, the Library Association and the Scientific Association, sang in the Choir, rowed in the first boat, and played hockey. Following his graduation, Mr. Dodge enrolled at Princeton University, where he earned his B.S. (1951) and MSE (1953) in chemical engineering.

After leaving Princeton, Mr. Dodge worked for Monsanto Chemical Company in Springfield, Massachusetts, before moving on to work in chemical research and technical sales for S.D. Warren Company in Westbrook, Maine, in 1959. He retired from the company in 1992.

He married Marylee Burt in 1959 and together the couple raised four children.

Returning to his Maine roots, Mr. Dodge took to the outdoors. He was an avid fly-fisherman, bird hunter, sailor, and skier, activities he enjoyed until the last year of his life.

Mr. Dodge is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marylee B. Dodge; his four children, Charles W. H. Dodge, Jr. ’79, Gail D. Dodge, Julia B. Dodge, and Elizabeth D. Olson; two sons-in-law; five grandchildren; and many cousins, with whom he reunited each summer in Rockport, Maine. 1948 William T. “Bill” Crocker a retired U.S. diplomat, classical music lover, and avid sailor, died peacefully on Feb. 11, 2021, of COVID-related complications. He was 90 years old and a resident of Framingham, Massachusetts.

1948

William T. "Bill" Crocker

a retired U.S. diplomat, classical music lover, and avid sailor, died peacefully on Feb. 11, 2021, of COVID-related complications. He was 90 years old and a resident of Framingham, Massachusetts.

Mr. Crocker was born in Boston on March 25, 1930, to the Reverend John Crocker and Mary Hallowell Crocker. He arrived at St. Paul’s as a Third Former in the fall of 1943 and quickly became an integral part of the SPS community. His passion for music — it was said that he was the School’s first violinist — propelled him to join the Choir and Glee Club. He also played in the band. He was active in the Outing Club, loved to ski, and rowed first boat on the varsity crew.

After SPS, Mr. Crocker graduated from Harvard in 1952 with a bachelor’s in English. He earned a master’s from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1954. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service in 1955.

During his three-decade career with the U.S. Information Agency, Mr. Crocker had repeated postings to Austria, Germany, and Denmark and spent more than 10 years in Japan. His primary focus was on promoting cultural, educational, and intellectual exchanges between countries. He became highly proficient in the language of each country. It was during his first posting to Graz, Austria, that he met and married Aki Maria.

After retiring to Washington, D.C., in 1986, Mr. Crocker became a docent at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, where he led tours for many years. He especially enjoyed introducing schoolchildren to the wonders and beauty of Asian art. He also acted as a hospice volunteer at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing for more than a decade.

In 2001, following the death of his wife, Mr. Crocker moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts. There, he reconnected with old friends, including many SPS formmates living in New England, and with his large, extended family. He played chamber music regularly, attended the Boston Symphony weekly, and went to just about every opera performed in the Boston area. He also made regular trips back to D.C., where his daughter, Martina, resides.

Mr. Crocker was also a skilled sailor, who spent summers on North Haven Island in Maine. He developed his passion for collecting rocks and driftwood, creating inspirational natural sculptures that he was encouraged to exhibit.

Mr. Crocker was predeceased on Dec. 20, 1998, by wife, Aki, and by four siblings. He is survived by his daughter, Martina Crocker; his youngest sister, Mary Strang; and 17 beloved nieces and nephews.

1948

Albert Pancoast “Albie” Neilson

a beloved Episcopal priest and passionate activist for peace and justice, died peacefully, with his family by his side, on Feb. 11, 2021. He was 90 years old and a resident of Arrowsic, Maine.

Mr. Neilson was born in Philadelphia on June 27, 1930, the son of Harry Rosengarten Neilson of the Form of 1913 and Alberta Reath Neilson. After attending The Episcopal Academy, he arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1944. The Neilson-SPS bond runs deep. In addition to his father, Mr. Neilson’s brothers, Harry Rosengarten Neilson, Jr. ’46 and Benjamin Reath Neilson ’56 attended the School, as did Mr. Neilson’s son, William Lewis Neilson ’73 and various nieces, nephews, and cousins.

“[SPS] was home to me right from the beginning,” Mr. Neilson said in 2010.

At SPS, Mr. Neilson played football, hockey, and rowed on Long Pond. He also spent a considerable amount of time outdoors, which he later credited with sparking his lifelong passion for the natural world. His appreciation for this period of his life propelled Mr. Neilson to gift money for St. Paul’s to establish the Environmental Stewardship Chair Fund and endow the position of the fund’s manager.

Mr. Neilson graduated from Yale in 1952 with a B.A. in philosophy. He earned his M.Div. from General Theological Seminary in 1957. In between, he did a two-year tour of duty with the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Neilson had a parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from 1957 to 1963, and later he became the assistant rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Delaware, a position he held into the 1990s.

While a junior in college, he met Julie Hopkins when they were both working at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. The couple married on May 2, 1954.

Throughout his life, Mr. Neilson advocated for important social causes. With his wife, he vigorously and publicly promoted civil rights and disarmament and opposed the Vietnam War. In 1967, Mr. Neilson and five other religious leaders in Wilmington established an interfaith organization to promote the cause of peace, Delaware Pacem in Terris, which continues to operate.

In his later years, Mr. Neilson became increasingly concerned over the degradation of the natural world, which he felt was an acute manifestation of spiritual neglect, and he devoted considerable effort and financial resources to supporting initiatives at St. Paul’s and Yale that integrated the study and practice of religion and environmentalism.

He was predeceased on Feb. 3, 1997, by his beloved wife, Julie. In addition to numerous grandchildren, nephews, and nieces, many of whom attended St. Paul’s, Mr. Neilson is survived by his brother, Benjamin Reath Neilson ’56, and his wife, Metsie; his son, Will ’73, and his wife, Pia; his son, Joe, and his wife, Julie; and his daughter, Kate, and her partner, Susan Augenstein.

1948

Peter Semler

a senior career foreign officer, who represented Washington in Moscow, Bonn, Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Milan, died in a Manhattan hospital on March 2, 2021, from COVID-19. He was 89 years old and remembered for his intense curiosity, mischievous sense of humor, ardent love of music, and devotion to his family.

Hailing from an accomplished family, Mr. Semler was born on June 10, 1931, in Manhattan, the son of G. Herbert Semler, a well-regarded New York City lawyer, and Grace Parker Semler. His maternal grandfather, Horatio W. Parker, was a composer and dean of the Yale School of Music, and Mr. Semler became a noted pianist as well.

Mr. Semler arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1943. While at SPS, he was a member of the Library Association and sang in the Choir.

He graduated from Yale in 1953. His time as an undergraduate included a year in Vienna in 1952, where he witnessed how the United States and Soviet Union had begun to forge their Cold War battles. Mr. Semler saw communist demonstrations and was interrogated by a Soviet Army patrol. These developments, along with his own deep interest in geopolitics, history, and understanding different points of view, launched what would become an almost 40-year career with the Foreign Service.

“I had been infected by the excitement of history,” he wrote in an unpublished memoir. After a two-year stint in Korea with the U.S. Army, Mr. Semler formally entered the diplomatic world. As a Cold War specialist, he spoke fluent French, German, Italian, and Russian. As a young diplomat in Moscow, he watched the Cuban Missile Crisis unfold from within the U.S. Embassy.

Mr. Semler wasn’t just a product of a specific time, he helped to shape it. In the final years of the Cold War, he led U.S. efforts to install Pershing cruise missiles and, against convention, anticipated the fall of the Berlin Wall.

While Consul General in Milan, Mr. Semler forged direct contacts with the Italian magistrates, such as Antonio Di Pietro, leading the “Clean Hands” probe investigation into political corruption that led to the downfall of the Italian First Republic and leaders such as former Prime Ministers Bettino Craxi and Giulio Andreotti. To this day, the Italian press credits Mr. Semler’s cables to Washington for the U.S. government’s non-interference with the “Clean Hands” probe.

It was a life that catered to Mr. Semler’s ease at fitting in with all manner of situations. He “glided through embassy ballrooms, coded-cable offices, and covert conversation with local dissident groups opposed to the governments he was dealing with day to day,” wrote the New York Times.

In every respect, the work became his life. His wife, Helen Boldyreff Semler, was a Russian interpreter who translated for Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton and was often with her husband as he moved throughout the world. She died in 2001.

The couple had four children together, one of whom, Tasha Semler, was murdered in 1973 while a student at The Madeira School in Virginia.

Mr. Semler is survived by his son Peter K. Semler, daughters Tatiana Pourschine and Helen S. Kirwan-Taylor; and grandsons Rocco and Thomas Semler and Constantine and Ivan Kirwan-Taylor.

1948

Oliver “Ollie” Wolcott, Jr.

a classic gentleman, known for his charm and sense of humor, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Hamilton, Massachusetts, on April 10, 2021, with his wife, Linda, beside him. He was 90.

Mr. Wolcott was born on Aug. 1, 1930, the son of Sybil Appleton Wolcott and Oliver Wolcott, Sr. He attended Shore Country Day School before enrolling at St. Paul’s School as a Second Former in the fall of 1943. He competed with Old Hundred and Halcyon and was a member of the Scientific Association.

Mr. Wolcott attended Harvard, earning his A.B. in 1952. He served two years as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army before returning to live in Hamilton.

In 1951, Mr. Wolcott married Linda Kinney, and the couple enjoyed 69 years of marriage. Together, the couple raised three sons and enjoyed the love of family, biking, gardening, tennis, and traveling.

Mr. Wolcott worked at Honeywell for 35 years, then founded a fundraising software business in retirement. The family genealogical historian, he assembled a 50-page softcover book detailing his heritage dating to 1630. He was a direct seventh-generation descendant of the signer of the Declaration of Independence whose name he shared, and the grandson of a Massachusetts governor.

A devoted alumnus of St. Paul’s School, Mr. Wolcott was a member of the Hargate Society. He was a trustee of Pingree School and an avid volunteer at Appleton Farms in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Mr. Wolcott was a former member of Myopia Hunt Club, Singing Beach Club, Somerset Club, and Owl Club. He loved to split wood, drive his old Farmall 140 tractor around the property, and tend his vegetable garden. He loved to dance and was the life of any party. At 6-foot-5, Mr. Wolcott towered over most of his dance partners. He was a charming host, who enjoyed cocktails and lobsters with friends at his family’s house at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Oliver Wolcott was predeceased by his sisters, Augusta Howes and Helen Parson. He is survived by his wife, Linda; three sons and their wives: Oliver Wolcott III ’72 and Elise, Charles Wolcott and Elisabeth, and Randolph Wolcott and Georgianna; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

1949

Leonard “Sandy” Davey, Jr.

who had a long career in television, died in peace at the age of 90 on April 2, 2021, at his home at Westminster Towers, a retirement community in Orlando, Florida.

Mr. Davey was born on Oct. 27, 1930, the son of Molly and Leonard S. Davey, Sr. After attending the Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island, Mr. Davey arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1943. At SPS, he sang with the Choir and the Glee Club.

Following SPS, Mr. Davey enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he earned a B.A. in economics. From there, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Almost all of Mr. Davey’s adult life was spent in Orlando, where he is remembered as the longtime general manager of Channel 6 Television and for having a vibrant social life.

“He was the epitome of that unique and sadly lost period of American culture,” lamented a longtime friend. “He was also a good listener and enjoyed a good story or joke, even if it was at his expense. My wife and I kept in touch with him by seeing him at the Country Club of Orlando…. If you were playing a round of golf, and playing well, he might say, ‘Oh, I hate it when you you’re playing good; it’s not as much fun.’”

His tennis buddy and tournament partner at Orlando Country Club recalled Mr. Davey’s vibrant sense of humor and inside jokes. “He was a character for sure, but also sweet and thoughtful,” the friend shared.

Mr. Davey is survived by his niece, Shelly Garner; his nephew, George Stiegler; and his older sister, Marylee Stiegler.

1950

Peter Oddleifson

a true gentleman in every sense of the word, died as he wished, naturally and at home, on March 18, 2021, with his devoted wife, Kay, by his side.

Mr. Oddleifson was born in Rochester, New York, on Dec. 12, 1932, the son of August and Marjorie Harris Oddleifson. His twice-great maternal grandfather, Everard Peck, who arrived in Rochester in 1816, was chosen to be one of five trustees of Rochesterville, and became the town’s first book publisher and second newspaper publisher and editor of the Rochester Telegraph the following year. Generations later, Mr. Oddleifson was proud that the Pecks had a safe house on the Underground Railroad and were allies of Frederick Douglass.

His paternal grandfather, Sigurdur Oddleifson, stepmother, and father, August Oddleifson, then nine years old, emigrated from the north shore of Iceland to Canada in 1902. Mr. Oddleifson was deeply engaged with his Icelandic heritage and traveled to Iceland many times to visit with relatives.

Mr. Oddleifson enrolled at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1946. He was a member of the Cadmean/Concordian Literary Society and the Missionary Society, served on the Student Council, and was a supervisor in his house. He also played hockey.

He earned his A.B. from Yale in 1954 and his LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1957. He worked as an attorney at Milbank, Tweed, Hope and Hadley in New York for two years before returning to Rochester to practice law at Harris-Beach for the next 40 years. Mr. Oddleifson served as managing partner of the firm for two terms. He built an excellent reputation in the legal community based on his fairness, intelligence, and willingness to mentor others.

As a young lawyer, after the Rochester race riots in 1964, Mr. Oddleifson served on the anti-racist FIGHT organization’s board of directors and, with Xerox executives, incorporated Eltrex Industries to create more jobs for African American residents. He remained committed to his community throughout his life. His extensive volunteer work was focused on serving at-risk urban children. Mr. Oddleifson was a member of numerous nonprofit boards of directors in Rochester and was founding chair of the Hillside Family of Agencies and The Children’s Agenda. He also was a former chair of the boards of Hillside Children’s Center, the Genesee Hospital, and the RIT Institute of Fellows (now Rochester Fellows). As an ally and pro bono attorney, Mr. Oddleifson contributed significantly for two decades to the national LGBTQ movement for equal ordination rights in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He possessed a deep sense of justice, equity, and love.

At heart, Mr. Oddleifson was a family man. He was devoted to his wife of 23 years, Kay (Wallace), with whom he shared an extraordinary partnership filled with love, respect, and mutual understanding. He was beloved by his children and grandchildren, in whose personal and professional growth he took a keen interest. He was known for his thoughtful, respectful, well-reasoned, principled, relationship-oriented, and loving way of life.

One of his children shared, “He took every opportunity to right the wrongs that he saw in the world and taught his children to do the same. We carry on his legacy in our own work in the world.”

Peter Oddleifson is survived by his large, blended family, including his wife, Kay; his son, Christopher; daughters, Stephanie, Jennifer, and Elizabeth and their spouses; nine grandchildren; and his former wife, Christina Oddleifson, the mother of his children. He also leaves behind his large and loving Wallace stepfamily. He was predeceased by his brother, Eric Oddleifson ’52. 1951 Hugh Douglas “Doug” Barclay a former New York state senator, died peacefully on March 14, 2021, at his home in Pulaski, New York, surrounded by his loving family. He was 88.

1951

Hugh Douglas "Doug" Barclay

a former New York state senator, died peacefully on March 14, 2021, at his home in Pulaski, New York, surrounded by his loving family. He was 88.

Mr. Barclay was born in New York City on July 5, 1932, the only child of Hugh and Dorothy Moody Barclay. He attended school in Pulaski in a one-room schoolhouse before enrolling at St. Paul’s School as a Second Former in the fall of 1946. At SPS, he was a member of the Scientific Association and the Missionary Society. He competed in football with Old Hundred.

He earned his B.A. from Yale in 1955 and was in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. Following his service, Mr. Barclay attended Syracuse University College of Law, earning his J.D. in 1961. He then joined the Syracuse law firm of Hiscock, Cowie, Bruce, Lee & Mawhinney (predecessor of Barclay Damon, LLP), where he practiced as a partner for more than 50 years.

In 1964, Mr. Barclay was elected to the New York State Senate, where he was honored to serve for 20 years. He sponsored major legislation on housing, criminal justice, court reform, and economic development before his retirement in 1984. He continued to be active in politics, advising many local, state, and federal campaigns. In 2003, President George W. Bush nominated, and the U.S. Senate confirmed, Mr. Barclay as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador, where he served until 2006. As ambassador, he was highly regarded by diplomats as an affable and capable foreign service officer who always looked after America’s best interest.

Mr. Barclay served on many corporate boards, among them Syracuse Supply as chair of the board (1988-2003) and Key Bank as general counsel and secretary (1971-89). He also was a committed community member and served on various university boards, including the board of Syracuse University as chair (1992-98) and Clarkson University. He also was president of the Syracuse Metropolitan Development Association (1991-2003) and a former board member of Empire Airlines.

While his career took him far and wide, Mr. Barclay’s heart belonged to the North Country. He was the seventh generation to live on the family farm in Pulaski, the place he loved most. He was a tireless advocate for his hometown, playing a lead role in fundraising for the Pulaski Fire Company, the Northern Oswego County Ambulance Service, and the Pulaski Health Center.

Mr. Barclay is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sara “Dee Dee” Seiter Barclay; five children, Katie Coyne, David Barclay, Dorothy Chynoweth, Susan Barclay, and Will Barclay, and their spouses; and 10 grandchildren.

1952

Charles S. “Charley” Cheston, Jr.

died on Feb. 1, 2021, at his home in Topsfield, Massachusetts. He was 86.

Mr. Cheston was born on June 30, 1934, in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles and Harriet Frazier Cheston. He enrolled at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1948 after attending Chestnut Hill Academy. He rowed with Halcyon and competed in hockey and football with Old Hundred. Mr. Cheston was a member of the Dramatic Club, the Missionary Society, and Le Cercle Français.

After earning his A.B. from Harvard in 1956, Mr. Cheston spent most of his career as an investment adviser for 35 years at Brown Brothers & Harriman in Boston. He retired in 1997. He also worked for Pulsifer & Associates in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Mr. Cheston was an avid sportsman and competitor. From a very early age, he could be found on the water behind the helm of his sailboat in North Haven, Maine. Through the years, he raced in international waters and could still be found at the helm of his own boat into his 80s.

His childhood love of riding horses and competition transitioned into embracing the sport of Combined Equestrian Driving. His career culminated in Europe when he represented the U.S. in the World Equestrian Driving Championships.

On June 10, 1961, Mr. Cheston married Virginia “Lois” Powell. Together, they raised six children and enjoyed 60 years of marriage. Throughout his life, Mr. Cheston also served on the boards of several schools and philanthropic organizations, including Brookwood School, the Frontier Nursing University, and the American Cancer Society.

Mr. Cheston is survived by his wife, Lois; his children, Virginia Cheston Spencer, Charles S. Cheston III, Jane Papps Bellenis, “Fizz” Papps, Elizabeth Papps, and John A. Papps; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased in 2018 by his sister, Cornelia Cheston Worsley.

1952

William Seabury “Breezy” Reid

a devoted alumnus of St. Paul’s School, died peacefully on April 11, 2021, in York Harbor, Maine. He was 87.

“Breezy” Reid was born in New York City on Jan. 21, 1934, the son of Fergus Reid, Jr. (Form of 1919) and Etheldreda Winthrop Seabury Reid. He attended The Buckley School, before enrolling at St. Paul’s as a First Former in the fall of 1946. Breezy captained the Shattuck crew as a member of the varsity first boat and played hockey for Old Hundred. He served on the Pictorial Board and was a member of the Scientific Association, the Rifle Club, the Athletic Association, and the Missionary Society. Later in life, he became a member of the Hargate Society.

He earned his B.A. from Yale in 1956 and moved to Boston in 1958, where he met Ala Hencken. The couple married on June 25, 1960.

Breezy’s investment career began at State Street Bank in Boston. Over two decades there, he became senior vice president and research director in the Trust Department. He then joined BayBank in 1979. Breezy served as treasurer of Boston Legal Services for more than 20 years. In 1985, Breezy and Ala moved from Boston to York Harbor, where he started the investment firm Johnston, Reid & Mitchell with two friends. He retired in 2010.

Breezy endeared himself to family and friends with his irrepressible sense of fun, youthful enthusiasm, ready laugh, and penchant for mischief. He regularly instigated adventures, which might include a mud fight in Brave Boat Harbor, setting off fireworks, or a shoreline trek from York Harbor to Kittery Point. Though he was well known for disliking social events, he maintained many close friendships and was the life of family sockhops, for which he made wonderful mixtapes from his collection that ranged from zydeco to bluegrass and gospel.

Breezy maintained a lifelong passion for sports and competition, especially golf. He was a member of the board and president of York Country Club. In 1954, he and a group of rowers from Yale traveled to Henley, England, where they competed in a friendly across-the-Iron-Curtain race with the Soviet 8. Throughout his life, he would invent new games, such as cross-country croquet, beach bocce, and a memorable Thanksgiving soccer match between the Birch Hill Boobies (Breezy’s favorite bird) and their crosstown rivals, Tim’s Turkeys (named for longtime SPS faculty member Tim Miller). Breezy also was fascinated by industrial archaeology. He traveled the world with Ala, riding historic trains, seeing interesting locks and bridges, and exploring unique industrial buildings.

At “Birch Hill,” the Reids’ home in York Harbor, Breezy displayed a photo of every car he ever owned in chronological order, constructed a network of trails with handmade bridges and dams in the woods, and filled the entry hall with chainsaw-carved wooden bears. He cut and split firewood and catalogued it like a connoisseur of fine wine, complete with labels documenting each tree. Perhaps his most impressive collection was an intricate Märklin HO gauge train set housed in its own dedicatd building. He displayed and regularly updated detailed charts on the stock market and other charts that showed detailed records of the high and low monthly temperatures in the woods near his home. His knowledge of naval history, especially

WW II battleships, was as extensive as the collection of ship models he built. His Civil War interest took him to many battlefields. A few of the boats and airplanes Breezy built were radio-controlled and functional, at least until they inevitably sank or dropped from the sky. For Breezy, those moments were never failures, but times for reflection.

Breezy leaves his wife, Ala; two children, Katharine Reid Koeze ’79 and Samuel Seabury Reid ’81; their spouses, Jeff Koeze and Juliet Reid; four grandchildren, Hugh Koeze ’08, Ella Koeze ’10, Chloe Reid, and Harry Reid; his brother, Fergus Reid III ’51; his sister, Winthrop (Windy) Reid Burns; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. His family was by his side during his last days.

1955

Ethan Emery

an artist and architect and a man of many talents and interests, died from complications of heart disease at his home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, on April 2, 2021, with family by his side. He was 83.

Mr. Emery was born in Cincinnati on May 22, 1937, the son of John Josiah Emery and Irene Gibson Emery. He attended Cincinnati Country Day School before enrolling at St. Paul’s School as a Second Former in the fall of 1950. At SPS, Mr. Emery sang in the Glee Club, wrote for Horae Scholasticae, and was a member of the Pictorial Board, the Cadmean Literary Society, and La Junta. He competed in wrestling, football, and lacrosse. Mr. Emery made lifelong friends at St. Paul’s.

In 1959, he earned his A.B. in architecture from Harvard, where he was a member of the Porcellian Club and the Hasty Pudding Club. Mr. Emery then pursued a career as an artist and an architect. In his early years, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Charles Dana Gibson, a famous illustrator who created the Gibson Girl, the “personification of the feminine ideal of physical attractiveness.” Mr. Emery was described by one friend as “a guy who made it his purpose in life to have fun every single day.” At Harvard, he frequently walked across campus in unusual costumes and was known for his pranks, sense of fun, and wicked sense of humor.

He painted until he discovered the fulfilling work of restoring and renovating old houses and barns, eventually building the beautiful Casa Misión in San Miguel. Mr. Emery also maintained a great love for acting, which he developed at Harvard. Whether it was Noël Coward plays with the Rhinebeck Theatre Society, Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals with the Camden Civic Theatre, or Oscar Wilde plays with the Bajio Rep, he relished being in front of an audience.

Mr. Emery lived a full life, traveling and residing all over the world, including Thailand, Spain, England, and Mexico. Along the way, he picked up a flair for cooking Asian dishes. He also was a hunter who could imitate a wanton turkey hen, and he was known as the consummate friend, who would arrive wearing a sarong and no shoes and proceed to entertain with stories of wonderful adventures.

In 2000, Mr. Emery settled in San Miguel de Allende and proceeded to make the colonial-era Mexican city his home. He became fluent in Spanish and made friends with the wide-ranging community of expats and locals. He threw himself into building his greatest legacy, a bed and breakfast, complete with a rich (but untrue) backstory that included monks who had taken vows of silence and civil war cannonballs.

Mr. Emery will perhaps be missed the most in Maine, where his presence on the family compound was a foregone conclusion. During the summers, he could be found working on various projects, whether it was his barn or the chapel. From the summers he spent there as a child to the later years, when he would drive from Mexico to Maine, he always considered 700 Acre Island his true home. It was there that he chose to have his ashes buried alongside the many dogs who were his faithful companions throughout his life.

His marriages to Liliane Tuck, Rose Emery, and Nira Beram ended in divorce.

Mr. Emery is survived by his children, Josiah Emery, Dana G. Emery ’83, Matthew Emery, and DeWolf Emery ’99; six grandchildren; his longtime partner, Teresa Gavilán; his brother, George Post; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Nancy Magro, Irene Goodale, Lela Steele, and Melissa Lanier.

1955

Edward H. Hamm

a kind and generous man, died on March 12, 2021, near his home in Jupiter, Florida. The cause of death was a rare blood disease that he’d fought for many years. He was 83 years old.

Mr. Hamm was born on July 22, 1937. He was the son of Marie L. Hamm and William Hamm, Jr., head of the Theodore Hamm Brewing Company, one of Minnesota’s most iconic breweries. Founded in 1865, the company brewed in Minnesota for well over a century, and its brief national profile was bolstered by its recognizable animated bear and its Minnesota-inspired slogan: “From the land of sky-blue waters.”

Mr. Hamm arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1951. He sang with the Glee Club and served as editor of Horae Scholasticae.

Mr. Hamm earned his B.A. from Yale in 1959 and eventually went to work for the family business, the focus of which had transitioned after the beer company was sold, to insurance and real estate.

With his former wife, Jean Ford, Mr. Hamm raised two children, Shannon M. Warner and Edward H. Hamm, Jr., a celebrated film producer known for such projects as Get Out (2017) and Southland Tales (2006).

Mr. Hamm’s life was defined by his generosity. He was a regular donor to St. Paul’s School and a major supporter of 1000 Friends of Florida, which promotes sustainable economic growth in that state. He also served as vice president and treasurer of the Northern Star Foundation, a nonprofit that offers financial assistance to meet secondary and higher education needs.

Mr. Hamm is survived by his children, Shannon and Edward. He was predeceased in 1965 by his brother, George W. Carroll ’48, and in 2018 by his brother, William H. Hamm ’53.

1955

Frederic Kidder “Fred” Houston

an architect and family man, known for his kindness, good humor, and sense of style, died on Dec. 10, 2020, of complications from COVID-19. He was 84 years old and a resident of Buffalo, New York.

Mr. Houston was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on March 27, 1936, the son of David M. and Virginia T. Houston. He attended Tower Hill School before enrolling at St. Paul’s School as a Fourth Former in the fall of 1952

At SPS, Mr. Houston sang in the Glee Club, was a member of the Acolyte’s Guild and the Pictorial Board, and served as business manager of The Pelican. He competed with Isthmian and Shattuck. He earned his B.A. in fine arts from Trinity College in 1959 and his M.A. in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962.

During graduate school, Mr. Houston met Marie Sturges, a staffer at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They were married in 1963 and moved to Buffalo, where they raised two children.

Mr. Houston first worked for Duane Lyman, the dean of Western New York architecture, and then for pioneering African American architect Robert Traynham Coles, before spending two years with the Department of Urban Renewal in Buffalo City Hall.

In 1969, Mr. Houston was one of the founding partners of HHL Architects (Hamilton, Houston, Lownie) and, at the time of his death, was the last surviving original partner. HHL helped to bring modern architecture to Buffalo. The firm was founded as a response to those who dreamed of simpler spaces with clean lines and a contemporary aesthetic at a time when there were few modern options available in Buffalo. Over the next 33 years, Mr. Houston was principal in charge of numerous projects, ranging from private houses to schools, medical centers, and art galleries. His work earned him many accolades, but he had a particular fondness for the 1995 recognition by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) of a sweeping arc inserted into the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to expand the gift shop.

Mr. Houston designed houses for several close friends and clients who became friends during the design process, a testament to his ability to press a vision while maintaining an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the wishes of his clients. In 1970, he built his minimalist masterpiece, a weekend residence for his family on the banks of Cazenovia Creek, just outside East Aurora, New York. The house and pool were the location for parties with friends and vacations with family.

In addition to his work at HHL Architects, Mr. Houston was instrumental in founding the Landmark Society of Western New York, an organization with the mission of preserving Buffalo’s architectural heritage. He taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo’s School of Architecture and Planning through most of his career. He continued consulting with HHL Architects after retirement.

A dapper dresser, his tie collection (bright colors and bold stripes) expressed his spirit in a blend of modern and classic, with a punch of fun. He loved people, parties, music, food, and wine. In the summer, Mr. Houston swam daily laps in the pool. In the winter, he took to ski slopes near and far with family and friends

Mr. Houston is survived by his wife, Marie; their children, Ginny Meenan and Tom Houston, and their spouses; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, David Minot Houston, Jr.

1956

Leslie N. Crichton, Jr.

a generous and caring family man, died peacefully at his home in Herkimer, New York, on Feb. 1, 2021. He was 82.

Mr. Crichton was born in Orange, New Jersey, on Feb. 10, 1938, the son of Leslie N. and Ruth M. Crichton. He arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1952. He sang with the Glee Club and was a member of the Dramatic Club, the Outing Club, and the Scientific Association.

Mr. Crichton earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Syracuse University in 1961 and a master’s in computer science from Binghamton University in 1986.

On Dec. 30, 1961, Mr. Crichton married Helen J. Becker at St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville, Connecticut. The couple remained devoted to one other for nearly 60 years. Together, they traveled the country for Mr. Crichton’s work and were leaders for the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Crichton’s faith played a tremendous role in his life. He and Helen were active in their local parishes and helped lead various church youth groups. Mr. Crichton was a vestryman, sang in choirs, taught Sunday School, and assisted in outreach events.

In the Diocese of Albany, the Crichtons were delegates to the Diocesan Convention and belonged to the Order of Saint Luke. They also volunteered at Beaver Cross Camp at the Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, New York, where they worked on landscaping and assisted with camp activities. Mr. Crichton is best remembered for his generous sharing of time and talent. It was often said that he would do anything for anyone.

Mr. Crichton is survived by his wife, Helen; their 10 children, Laura Suzuki, Dorothy Stankavage, Patricia Harris, Heather Crichton, Amber Crichton, Robert Crichton, George Crichton, Michael Crichton, Edward Crichton, and Shawn Crichton; as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

1959

Douglas Carroll Burkhardt

died on April 13, 2021. He was 79 years old and a resident of Rochester, New York.

Mr. Burkhardt was born in New York City on May 19, 1941, the son of Edward and Catherine Burkhardt. He attended Trinity School in his home city before enrolling at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1955. Mr. Burkhardt sang in the Glee Club and the Choir and was a member of the Scientific Association.

Mr. Burkhardt earned a B.S. in science from the University of North Carolinain 1963. Three years later, he earned his MBA at Syracuse University and was recruited by Eastman Kodak, which required him to move to Rochester. Mr. Burkhardt left Kodak to become a realtor and bought First Realty Company in 1976, expanding on the firm’s success with a focus on commercial and industrial real estate.

“I’ve known Doug for many years,” remembered one friend shortly after Mr. Burkhardt’s death. “He was one of the most knowledgeable industrial/commercial brokers in the Rochester region. He was straightforward and, at the same time, had a great sense of humor.”

Mr. Burkhardt had a passion for the water and was a member of Rochester Yacht Club for 40 years; he served as commodore of the club in the early 1990s. During the warmer months, Mr. Burkhardt took great joy in driving his boat, Tranquility, on the Erie Canal with his partner of 13 years, Kathleen “Kathy” Davis.

Kathy survives him, as does her son, Eric Smith. Mr. Burkhardt is also survived by his children, David Burkhardt and Renee Burkhardt; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

1959

Henry R. Schwab

an independent bookstore owner and book publisher, died on Jan. 14, 2021, of complications from COVID-19. He was 79 years old and a resident of Mystic, Connecticut.

Mr. Schwab was born in New York City on August 17, 1941, the son of Hermann C. Schwab and Lesley H. Ripley Schwab. He attended Green Vale School before enrolling at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1955. At SPS, he ran cross country for Isthmian. He was a member of the Green Room Committee, Le Cercle Français, Mathematics Society, Parnassian Society, Pelican Board, Pictorial Board, Rifle Club, Scientific Association, and Shakespearean Society.

It was at St. Paul’s that Mr. Schwab discovered a lifelong love for the language and literature of ancient Greece. He went on to study the history of arts and letters at Yale, graduating with a B.A. in 1963. He returned to Yale to receive an M.A. in 1965 and, after a year at Oxford, an M.Phil. in 1972 in the Classics Department.

In 1978, Mr. Schwab co-founded Book Haven, an independent bookstore located on the Yale campus, to focus on the needs of the academic community. He managed the store for 27 years with his wife, also a Yale graduate. During that time, the couple navigated major changes in the book industry, including the debut of Amazon and the proliferation of bookstore chains. Book Haven came to supply nearly half the textbooks for Yale students and stock its own wide selection of contemporary academic books.

In 1988, Mr. Schwab founded a small company to publish primarily literary criticism by Yale faculty and friends. The company, Doberman Books, was named for his dog, who spent many happy days greeting bookstore customers.

In addition to books, he found great pleasure in travel, especially to Greece and the Peloponnesus, although his fondest memories were from his nearly 60 years in New Haven. Mr. Schwab devoted his life to reading and research, and his extensive book collection was donated to a number of local libraries and booksellers around Mystic and New Haven.

Henry Schwab is survived by his sisters, Lesley Forman and Margery Weekes; his half-sister, Katharine “Tatine” Kimmick ’81; three children, Matthew, Lesley and Ruthie; and three grandchildren, Nathanael, Priscilla and Caleb. He was predeceased by his parents and his half-brothers, Stuart Schwab and George Schwab ’79.

1959

Bradford Chadbourne Taylor

died on Feb. 3, 2021, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 79 years old and a resident of Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Mr. Taylor (formerly known as Dexter Beaumont Partridge) was born on Nov. 11, 1941. He grew up in Andover, Massachusetts, after he was adopted by his uncle, Robert B. Taylor. Mr. Taylor was a young man when he changed his name.

He attended a British boarding school for two years before arriving at St. Paul’s as a Third Former in the fall of 1955. As a student, Mr. Taylor’s interests ran the gamut from music and the Parnassian Society to boxing, crew, hockey, soccer, and track.

Mr. Taylor earned his B.A. from Harvard in 1968.

Throughout his life, Mr. Taylor was considered a “unique” individual by friends and family. He packed an obsession for music and, while he was employed for a time as a worker at the Peterboro Basket Company in his hometown, Mr. Taylor didn’t believe in confining his days to trying to earn an income.

Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Lorraine Taylor, and his daughters, Henriette S. Taylor and Laura Taylor.

1959

Benjamin Vroom “Terry” White III

a wise, witty, and warmhearted gentleman, who cherished family, friends, and the joy of living, died peacefully at home on March 25, 2021, after a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79.

Mr. White was born on Nov. 25, 1941, the son of Benjamin V. White, Jr. and Charlotte G. White. He arrived at St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1955 from Alfred Plant Junior High School in West Hartford, Connecticut. At SPS, he competed in football and hockey with Old Hundred and rowed with Halcyon. Mr. White was a member of the Missionary Society and Le Cercle Français. He sang with the Glee Club, served as a Chapel warden, and was a supervisor in his house.

After SPS, Mr. White earned his A.B. (1964) and his M.A.T. (1970) from Harvard; he re-

ceived his J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1974. Between his undergraduate and graduate studies, Mr. White served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1967. From 1974 to 1975, he clerked for Justice Alfred H. Joslin on the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

In 1981, after serving as a partner at Hinckley Allen Salisbury & Parsons, Mr. White cofounded the law firm Vetter & White in Providence, Rhode Island. There, for more than 30 years, he practiced and managed the firm with his partner, George Vetter, specializing in civil litigation at both the federal and state level. During his time in Providence, Mr. White and his beloved wife, Poo, whom he married in 1969, raised their two children. They summered in —and eventually retired to — Westport, Massachusetts, where Mr. White devoted his time to family, friends, sailing, and the Westport Land Conservation Trust (WLCT).

As a mainstay at the WLCT, Mr. White advocated for the preservation of Westport’s countryside for decades, first as a volunteer, then as a board member, and, eventually, as president. During his tenure, he oversaw the protection of more than 2,000 acres of natural habitat, farmland, and historic sites. He helped the small organization of dedicated volunteers grow into one of the most well-regarded land trusts in Southeastern New England.

Mr. White also served as a board member of the Perishable Theatre in Providence and was a trustee at the Gordon School. He served for many years on Rhode Island’s Federal Board of Bar Examiners and as chair of the Bar Association’s Federal Court Bench/Bar Committee. He also was a past president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He was a man of tremendous character, respected by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth “Poo” White; his children, Charles White and Constance “Annie” White ’91, and her husband, Kenneth Rampino; his grandchildren, Charlotte “Maisie” Rampino and Isabelle Rampino; his siblings, James White, Richard White, and Charlotte Cowan; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his older brother, Thomas White.

1960

Joseph W. “Joe” Mechem

a deeply devoted family man, loyal friend, and storyteller, died on May 18, 2021, at the age of 79 following a cardiac arrest at home. A native of Cambridge and Westwood, Massachusetts, Mr. Mechem was a resident of Annisquam, Massachusetts, at the time of his passing.

Born in Boston on April 23, 1942, he was the son of John S. and Margaret (White) Mechem and twin brother of John C. “Jack” Mechem ’60. He entered St. Paul’s in 1955 while in the eighth grade and graduated in 1960. At St. Paul’s, Joe was a member of the Acolyte’s Guild and the Missionary Society, and he was sports editor of The Pelican. He was a proud Isthmian and played football, baseball, and ice hockey. He was also a member of the SPS hockey team and manager of the SPS football team. Joe was the consummate organizer, networker, and host. On many spring nights, you would find him organizing a stickball game with classmates on the School House lawn or Lower Grounds or a pickup lacrosse game on the Chapel lawn.

Joe attended Hobart College in Geneva, New York, graduating with a B.A. in economics in 1964. Following two years of service in the U.S. Army, he began a long career in the insurance industry, specializing in property and casualty lines of business. He joined Chubb in 1966, where his tenure lasted 16 years.

While at Chubb, he met Sewell Freund, a 1965 graduate of Mount Holyoke College and one of the first female trainees at the company. They were married in the autumn of 1967 and remained happily devoted to each other until Sewell’s death in 2007.

In addition to his tenure at Chubb, Joe worked for both Cigna and AIM in locations from New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston to California and Minneapolis. His tenure at Cigna also took him to Singapore, where he managed Australia, New Zealand, and 13 Southeast Asian countries as a regional vice president.

In 1997, he founded Mechem Associates. The culminating post of his career was as director of insurance at Agility Recovery Solutions.

A steadfast supporter of both of his alma maters, Joe actively gave time to the Alumni Association at St. Paul’s, where he was co-form agent from 2000 until his death and a member of the Hargate Society. He also served on the board of trustees for Hobart and William Smith Colleges. At both institutions, he was a passionate and gifted fundraiser. He was an active volunteer for other organizations as well, including as a member of the board of directors of Women’s Way, a past governor of the John Street Club in New York, and a director of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters. Additionally, Joe chaired the Minnesota Information Center and served on the board of Voyage House, Inc. in Philadelphia.

Upon moving year-round to Annisquam, where he was sometimes referred to as the “Mayor,” Joe became involved in the Annisquam Yacht Club and the Annisquam Village Church. Joe loved walking the neighborhoods, taking the family boat out with family and friends for cocktail cruises on Ipswich Bay, and watching sunsets from his favorite perch on the porch at Cypress Cottage. He frequently shared his love of Cypress Cottage with his SPS friends and set aside a bedroom for those who stayed on. It was called “The Alan Corey Room,” named for the late Alan Corey ’60, his long-term roommate at SPS.

Joe’s family meant the world to him. Known as “Daboo” to his beloved grandchildren, he enjoyed spending quality time with all the generations of Mechems through lobster dinners, cribbage games, and his grandchildren’s sports and hobbies. He was especially fond of read-alouds of written gratitudes each year at Thanksgiving and delighted in telling stories of his wife. He toasted Sewell as “the great mum” at each family gathering to keep her memory alive for all.

Joe is survived by his son, Joseph W. “Josh” Mechem, Jr., and his wife, Jenny; his daughter, Aimee Feeley, and her husband, John; his twin brother, Jack ’60; his sister, Molly; his grandchildren, Ryan, Alyson, Harrison, and Sophie; and his niece, Chapin Mechem ’91. Aside from his beloved Sewell, he was predeceased by his father, John ’34, his mother, Margaret, and his uncle, Richard ’41.

1964

David Huntington Williams

who led a distinguished legal career defending underrepresented citizens, died peacefully on April 16, 2021, after a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 74 years old and a resident of Rockville, Maryland.

The son of Edith Huntington and David Benton Williams, Mr. Williams was born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1946. Later, his family relocated to New York City, which he proudly claimed as his home for the rest of his life.

After graduating from the Allen-Stevenson School, Mr. Williams came to St. Paul’s School as a Third Former in the fall of 1960. While at SPS, Mr. Williams ran cross country and was a member of the John Winant Society and the Missionary Society.

Following SPS, Mr. Williams attended the American School in Switzerland for a year before enrolling at Harvard, where he spent some of the happiest years of his life and formed enduring friendships. He graduated in 1969 with a degree in English and earned a J.D. from Stanford in 1972.

His legal career began at the Federal Trade Commission, where Mr. Williams became a staunch advocate for consumer rights and played a major role in reforming credit practices. He seized the opportunity to participate in a special program then offered by the commission that permitted government attorneys to represent aggrieved federal employees in employment discrimination actions.

One of his proudest professional accomplishments was when Mr. Williams secured a judicial order permanently ordering the Agency for International Development to stop “engaging in unlawful employment practices against Black employees on account of their race.” During his subsequent career in private practice, Mr. Williams continued to passionately represent individuals often overlooked by the judicial system, regularly accepting pro bono civil rights clients.

Mr. Williams is survived by his wife of 38 years, Carol L. Eoannou-Williams. His marriage to the Honorable Diana Pritchard Jack ended in divorce. Mr. Williams was also the proud father of David Derrick Pritchard Williams; Benjamin Francis Williams (Tiffany Seybert); and Zoe Jane Carpenter Williams. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Adelyn Sophia Williams; his brother, Howard C. Williams; his sister, Debbie Farrow; several nieces; and a nephew.

1969

Fraser “Bryan” Wilkins

a passionate, entertaining classmate of diverse interests, died at his childhood home in Washington, D.C., on May 19, 2021. He was 70.

Born in Washington to Anne Bryan Wilkins and Foreign Service Officer Fraser Wilkins, Mr. Wilkins lived in India, Iran, and Cyprus as well as Washington, depending on where his ambassador father was stationed.

He entered St. Paul’s School as a Second Former in the fall of 1964 and was a member of the John Winant, Parnassian, and Shavian Societies. He played varsity football and lacrosse and Delphian hockey. In later years, Mr. Wilkins brought his enthusiasm for hockey to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League as a season ticketholder; his exuberance was occasionally known to catch the attention of concerned arena ushers.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973, Mr. Wilkins embarked on a career in journalism, first at the Lexington Herald in Kentucky and later in Washington as a correspondent or editor at several investor newsletters.

In 1993, Mr. Wilkins switched careers to train thoroughbred racehorses, which he continued until 2010. He used his family’s Moxley Farm in Shelbyville, Kentucky, as the home base for his horse operation. He was not above cheerfully inviting friends to invest with him in the next sure thing.

Mr. Wilkins also enjoyed fox hunting, riding in point-to-points, and other horse-related pursuits in the Virginia countryside. Another main interest was serving as president of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute, which gave him the opportunity to further his love of learning about ancient civilizations and maintain his affection for Cyprus, where his father had served as the first U.S. ambassador. Mr. Wilkins was a lifelong avid reader of history and biography and a collector of books, maps, and antiques.

Mr. Wilkins cherished his time at St. Paul’s and the friendships he made. Though seldom seen at reunions, in recent years he began to reach out to classmates, and he was very disappointed to miss his 50th reunion. A personable, smart, and enjoyable presence, he had a wonderful, dry sense of humor, and one invariably left his company feeling cheerful and the better for it. His was a full life.

Mr. Wilkins is survived by his wife of 40 years, Katherine Grayson Wilkins; his sons, William Fraser and Torrey Grayson; and his daughter, Emily Payne.

1971

Howland Donaldson Murphy

a loyal friend to many and a lover of the outdoors, died on May 6, 2021, at the age of 68 after a long illness. Originally from New York City, Mr. Murphy was a resident of Dedham, Massachusetts, at the time of his death.

Born on Dec. 19, 1952, Mr. Murphy was the son of Grayson M-P. Murphy (Form of 1926) and Mary E. Murphy. A graduate of The Buckley School of New York, he entered St. Paul’s in the fall of 1967. A captain of the SPS squash team and a member of the lacrosse team, he went on to attend Harvard University, where he continued to play squash and was also a member of the Porcellian Club.

In 1979, he graduated cum laude from Columbia Law School, starting his career at Dillon, Read & Co. shortly thereafter.

In 1982, Mr. Murphy married the former Jean C. Parker. They later divorced.

Following his work at Dillon, Read, Mr. Murphy had senior leadership positions with a number of financial firms, including as a partner at L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin. Based on his broad experience in corporate finance and investment, he co-founded the Brittany Capital Group, Inc. in 1996.

Mr. Murphy was known for his loyalty and kindness to family and friends. An involved member of his local communities, he was especially dedicated to giving back to Chatham, New York, where he spent much of the latter part of his life.

An avid outdoorsman, Mr. Murphy climbed many of the 46 High Peaks of the Adirondack mountains, and hiked stretches of the Appalachian Trail and alpine trails in Switzerland. From summers spent on Fishers Island as a child, Mr. Murphy enjoyed fishing and sailing around the island. He returned to Fishers Island many times and is buried there.

Mr. Murphy is survived by his siblings, Grayson Murphy ’53, Patty Paine, Anita Fritze, and Ellen Warner, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, including Peter Standish Paine III ’81, Alexander Gibson Paine ’87, and grandnephew Peter Paine IV ’15.

Howland’s family will especially miss his sense of humor and the inimitable laugh that announced his presence at any gathering. At Howland’s insistence, a party celebrating his life will be held in New York City later this year.

1979

Sarah Bankson Newton

following an extraordinary lifetime of loving, caring, and giving, Ms. Newton, a former trustee and selfless volunteer for St. Paul’s School and many other institutions, died unexpectedly on May 2, 2021, after experiencing a medical emergency while traveling in the Galapagos Islands. She was 60 years old and a resident of Concord, Massachusetts.

Ms. Newton was born in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 1960, and spent most of her childhood in Bethesda, Maryland. She attended the National Cathedral School and enrolled as a Third Former at St. Paul’s School in the fall of 1975. It was at St. Paul’s where she met her “brothers and sisters” of the Form of 1979, who became her extended family. At SPS, Ms. Newton rowed in the girls varsity first boat. She also served as a Student Admissions Officer and was a member of the Missionary Society and La Junta.

At Yale, she studied political science and art history. She began her career in New York City as an analyst in the investment banking unit of Prudential Securities, where she met the love of her life, Jeff Newton. When she left Prudential Securities to pursue her MBA at The Wharton School, the relationship with Jeff blossomed, and the couple was engaged four months after their first official date in 1987. The following September, they were married at Washington National Cathedral.

The Newtons started their life together in Boston, where Ms. Newton was employed by Aldrich, Eastman & Waltch (AEW), a real estate pension advisory firm. In 1991, when they learned they were expecting their first child, the couple moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where they built a broad, loving community of friends and neighbors. Ms. Newton retired from AEW in 1996 and devoted the rest of her life to her family and her community. In addition to raising three wonderful children, she spent countless hours with a number of nonprofits, about which she cared deeply.

Ms. Newton served on the board of trustees of St. Paul’s School from 2006 to 2015. She also was a member of the Alumni Association Executive Committee (2004-08), a form agent from 1999 to 2004 and from 2015 until the time of her death, and form director from 2004 to 2009 and 2019 until her death. She was devoted to St. Paul’s and her many beloved formmates and friends at the School.

In addition, she was a member of the board of visitors at The National Cathedral School, a trustee at The Fenn School, a member of the board of advisers of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and, at the time of her passing, she chaired the board of trustees at Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She called her work with Esperanza, a tuition-free middle school for girls, “the most difficult and rewarding work” she had ever done. Beyond her education-focused volunteer work, Ms. Newton served as director and overseer of the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, trustee at the Concord Museum, corporator of Emerson Hospital, director of Peter’s FUNd Racer for Melanoma Research, and board member of the Garden Club of Concord.

On Nantucket, where she spent summers since the early 1990s, Ms. Newton was equally engaged. She served as a trustee of the Nantucket Historical Association, a member of the Vestry at St. Paul’s Church, a member of the Nantucket Committee of the Trustees of Reservations, and a board member at Great Harbor Yacht Club, where she most recently chaired the House Committee.

Ms. Newton did everything with purpose, passion, and joy. She was quick to say “yes” to a meaningful opportunity and pursued these chances with unrivaled energy. She was a talented and deeply impactful leader and community builder, whose capacity for making a difference was limitless.

There is no doubt that Ms. Newton’s greatest passion was her family. She adored her husband, her children and their partners, and her newest love, grandson Henry, born in September 2020.

Ms. Newton loved to travel and was able to visit all 50 states before turning 50. Although Sarah and Jeff traveled frequently, she held special places in her heart for Italy, Napa Valley, St. Barts, and Nantucket.

In addition to her husband, Jeff, Ms. Newton is survived by her daughter, Avery, son-in-law, Kevin, and grandson, Henry; her daughter, Lindsay, and her fiancé, Christian Sleeper; her son, Chase; her brother, John Bankson III ’81, and his family; many cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and dear friends; and her two beloved poodles. She was predeceased in 2016 by her mother, Martha Bush Mould. Her father, John Bankson, Jr. ’48, died on June 25, 2021.