In Memoriam
1939 John W. Strong of Baltimore, Vt.,
passed away May 17, 2015. He was born in Bridgeport, Conn. He became a licensed pilot at the age of 15, which led to a 36-year career as a commercial pilot for Eastern Airlines. He retired as a captain in 1978. John trained military pilots during World War II. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Beverly, moved from Fairfield, Conn., to Baltimore, where he served as a selectman from 1979 to 1985. John’s wife died in 1998. Surviving him are his three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
1947 James Garrard Holt of Bloomfield, Conn., passed away Dec. 10, 2015. He was the father of Patricia and Tom, and grandfather to Marco and Ruby. He was predeceased by his wife, Loretta. He was born in Manhattan and grew up in King’s Point, Long Island. He graduated from Yale in 1951. He worked his entire career for Citibank in the state of New York and retired as a vice president in 1985. He will be remembered for his warm heart, big smile, love of the outdoors, crossword puzzles, travel and his unforgettable booming voice.
1952
David was an outstanding tennis and platform tennis player, and was inducted along with his brother, William, into the platform tennis hall of fame, having won many senior national championships. In his leisure time, he also enjoyed many worldwide travels with his wife. His lifelong commitment to community service was expressed through his activities in support of the town of New Hartford, where he served for many years as the chair of the Economic Development Commission; his church, Saint John’s Episcopal Church of New Hartford; and Westminster School. He was the recipient of multiple awards for his service, including the 2002 Charlotte Dufour Lifetime Service Award for Commitment to Saint John’s Episcopal Church, the 2003 Commercial Realtor of the Year by the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors, and the 2009 Distinguished Leadership Award for Community Service to the Town of New Hartford. David is predeceased by his daughter Katherine Cowgill Childs, and survived by his wife, Ellen; his brother William Prescott Childs ’54 and his wife Sheila Childs; daughter Alison Prescott Childs; son Porter Lewis Childs; grandchildren Sadie Childs Cora, Celia Pearl Childs and Milo Childs Campolo; great-granddaughter Alice Cora; brother-in-law William Cowgill; and many cousins, including Samuel Childs ’66, and children Jamie Childs ’93 and Ted Childs ’93; and nieces and nephews.
1950 Dr. Ward Wells Tracy died July 27, 2015. He was born in New York City. Ward lived in Stamford and Greenwich, Conn. He graduated from Colby College and the University of Pennsylvania Dental School. As one of just a few fourth-generation dentists, Ward practiced dentistry first with his father in New York City and then in Stamford and Greenwich for nearly 40 years. He was devoted to his practice and his patients, and touched the lives and teeth of thousands. Ward loved singing and performed with the Troupers Light Opera Company for many years. He was a familiar face at many community events around town and always sang with gusto. Ward’s favorite place was the small island he owned on Moosehead Lake in Maine. He enjoyed many summer vacations there with his family. He also enjoyed traveling. Ward is survived by his three sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.
1990 Christopher Durfee passed away Sept. 25, 2015. He was a 1994 graduate of the University of Denver. He was known for his concern for abandoned dogs and set up a foundation to care for needy canines. Chris is survived by his parents, Bzee and Sherman Durfee ’54; a sister, Elizabeth Durfee; a brother, Sherman Durfee Jr.; and his niece, Ginny Durfee ’15.
David Lewis Childs of New Hartford, Conn., passed away March 8, 2016. He was born in Nice, France. He attended Cornell University, and earned an economics degree from Mexico City College. While in Mexico City, he met his future bride, Ellen Cowgill. The couple enjoyed 55 years of marriage. David began his career in the family shoe business, Childs for Shoes in Massachusetts and Simmons Shoes in Connecticut. He continued with a successful career in commercial real estate with the firm now called CB Richard Ellis until his retirement.
Spring 2016
61