Avis de décès de Lillian Wentworth

Lillian Hicock Wentworth, 100, of Braintree, beloved wife of the late Robert B. Wentworth, passed away March 2, 2014. She was born April 25, 1913, in Southbury CT, the fourth child of farmer and musician Harry Nelson Hicock, who was descended from the first settlers of Stratford and Southbury CT, and his wife Edna (Tuttle) Hicock, who was descended from the first settlers of Goshen CT. Lillian attended Bullet Hill School in Southbury CT and was valedictorian of Woodbury High School in 1931. She earned her way through college with scholarships and work as a live-in nanny. In 1935, she graduated with an A.B. in Political Science and English from Brown University, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with the Quincy Mansion Final Honors. She was also class poet. She worked two years at the Hill- side School (CT), prior to attending graduate school at the University of Virginia, where she was a Philip Francis DuPont Fellow, and received an M.A. in Political Science in 1938. Her thesis was The Amerikadeutscher Volksbund as a Manifestation of German National Socialist Philosophy. While on a visit to Providence RI, Lillian was trapped by the famous 1938 hurricane and survived unscathed. For five years, Lillian was an Assistant Professor of Political Science and a Social Advisor at Mississippi State College for Women, Columbus MS. On Feb 16, 1946, she married Robert B. Wentworth, formerly of Uxbridge. They had met at a model League of Nations during college. Roberts work kept the family moving from Vermont, where son Alec was born, to Tennessee, where son Larry was born, Kansas, New York, and Illinois, returning in the summers to CT, where daughter Frances was born. Lillian resumed working in Rockford IL as a teacher of English and American History at Auburn High School. In 1961, Lillian and family moved to Braintree, where she began a 53-year career at Thayer Academy, first as a history and English teacher, then later as Head Librarian of Thayers new library, after earning a M.S. in Library Science from Simmons College. Lillian was the author of Thayer Academy- One Hundred Years, which she researched and wrote for Thayers centennial in 1977-78. This res- earch led to the founding of Thayers archives. Following retirement in 1978, Lillian worked part-time as Director of Publications and Public Relations. Following her second retirement in 1987, she continued volunteer work as head archivist until a few weeks before her death. A few of Lillians projects included writing a pamphlet on Sylvanus Thayer for the Braintree Historical Society, co-authoring the 2010 book, Windows To History, on Thayers historical stained glass windows, and compiling a family history of her great-uncles in the Civil War. Lillian worked on the committees for Braintrees 350th anniversary and Sylvanus Thayers 200th birthday celebration. Lillian belonged to the First Congregational Church, Braintree for over 53 years. She also belonged to the Pomperaug Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, Woodbury CT and was a life member in the Southbury (CT) and Braintree Historical Societies. She is survived and dearly missed by her children, Larry and Frances Wentworth, son-in-law George Claflin, and grandchildren, Marie, Lance and Gwendolyn Claflin. She is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews and their families in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Virginia. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, May 16, 12 Noon at the First Congregational Church, 12 Elm St., Braintree MA, followed by a visit to Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree, then returning to the church for a reception. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brown University for the Lillian and Robert Wentworth Library Fund, Brown University Box 1877, Providence RI 02912. Arrangements by the Peck Funeral Home, Braintree. www.peckservices.com.