Talcott Stanley, age 89, died Tuesday April 15, 2008 at the Caleb-Hitchcock Health Care Center in Bloomfield, CT., peacefully, with his family close at hand.
He was a quiet man whose kindness, intelligence and thoughtful perspective on events and people enriched and entertained those around him. His enthusiasm for life and positive approach to everything he did was inspiring. He did not seek the limelight, and would be surprised to know that so many people remember him as a mentor.
He loved to be with his friends, old and new, around the dinner table discussing the current art and political scene, or sharing the day’s adventures on the ski slopes, his latest golf tall tale, or the recent race on his sloop Bagheera. His children and grandchildren have wonderful memories of trips and adventures with him.
Talcott was born on November 21st, 1918 in New Britain, CT. to Philip B. Stanley and Helen Hooker Talcott Stanley. He was a graduate of Kingswood School, Hotchkiss School, and Williams College class of 1940. He served in the Army during WW II as a First Lieutenant in the Signal Intelligence Service. He married Nina Brower Hewitt December 15, 1945, graduated from Yale Law School in 1947, and settled for a short time in New Haven where the first of their four children was born.
Talcott moved his young family to West Hartford, CT. where he practiced law for six years then joined the Trust Department of Connecticut Bank & Trust. He took early retirement from the Bank in 1973 to devote himself full-time to community activities and family. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Hartt School and Watkinson School. Talcott was an Honorary Trustee of the New Britain Museum of American Art, which was founded by his grandfather in 1903. He was a Board member and Officer of the Alix W. Stanley Foundation for 45 years, and was instrumental in merging it into the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain. Talcott was Board President of the Wadsworth Atheneum, where he was awarded the prestigious Goodwin Medal for his 50 years of service to the institution, and was Board President of the Newington Children’s Hospital. In addition, he was a member of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church for 58 years.
Talcott was pre-deceased by his wife Nina and his wife Marjorie Scott Trotter. Talcott is survived by his wife Marguerite Sundheim Stanley and her daughter Joan Hennessy (Arthur) Wright and son John Hennessy; Talcott’s children Peter (Janet) Stanley of Tacoma, WA., Alix (Janie) Stanley of Mystic, CT., Rebecca Stanley of Harpswell, ME., and Cindy Stanley of Farmington, CT.; ten grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; his sister Francie Stout of Bloomfield, CT., and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
A memorial service was held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2008 at Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Talcott’s name to the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105.
