Born on 26 Nov. 1932, Owen was the son of the late Augustus Boyer (a mechanic and electrician with the Pennsylvania Railroad), and Catherine Pawling (née Twaddell) Boyer of Wilmington, Delaware.

He served in the U.S. Army (enlistment: 26 Nov. 1950; discharge date: 25 Nov. 1952), stationed in Salzburg, Austria. A passenger manifest lists Owen A. Boyer, Pvt, returning to the States on a military transport (plane #1603), landing at Westover AFB in Chicopee Falls, MA (point of origin and date are unclear).

Owen graduated from the University of Delaware in 1954. He married Dorothy Jean Wimbrow of Wilmington, DE, in 1956. His last known address was at 58 Balmoral Drive, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 (about 11 miles north of Wilmington, DE) until at least 2002.

Click here to learn the origins of the Boyer Family.
— Ian C. Mills, from research including Ancestry.com

“Mr. Owen A. Boyer exerts such an intangible attraction. His constant enthusiasm for Chestnut Hill Academy has often manifested itself in the classroom, on the soccer field, and for the Players Organization. He has awakened in us such qualities as perseverance, integrity, and the desire to achieve greater success. He has offered criticism, encouragement, or praise as the situation demanded. It is with such thoughts that we, the Class of 1966, dedicate our Caerulean to Mr. Owen A. Boyer.”
— CHA Class of 1966, page 1 of the Caerulean yearbook

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CHARLES
On Oct. 31, 1973, DANIEL W., of 711 Wolcott Drive, Chestnut Hill, husband of the late Mary Helen Charles (née Becker), and father of Carol Poust. Services Sat., 10 a.m. at Jacob F. Ruth’s, 8413 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill. Int. Whitemarsh Memorial Park. Friends may call Fri. eve., 7-9. Memorials may be sent to the Chestnut Hill Hospital, (Parking on premises).
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA), 1 Nov. 1973, Thurs.

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According to his wishes, Mr. Conkey’s body was donated to the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. A memorial service will be scheduled.

The family suggests that any memorials be contributions to the Damariscotta Lake and Watershed Association, Damariscotta, Maine 04543.
— The Philadelphia Inquirer, 10 Feb. 2000.

"Al Conkey was more than a teacher, he was also a good friend and mentor. I visited him and his wife, Alice, a number of times at their home in Erdenheim. They had a pair of Steinway grands facing each other, which as you can imagine dominated their living room. It was a real treat when the two of them played a concerto for me on the two pianos."
— Ian Mills, music student, Glee Club and Octet member.

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He spent his remaining years in his home on Stenton Avenue, close by the campus where he had invested 42 years, first as a teacher of languages, then as headmaster.

During those years, he won the love of his students, who, returning for annual homecoming ceremonies, gave him standing ovation after standing ovation. His children, too, gave their interest to the academy. Robert A. Jr. is a member of the school’s board of directors.

At his retirement, he expressed a singular desire. “I'm going to stay up in Canada for a while in the fall,” he said. “That way I’ll get to see the autumn leaves up there for the first time. I’ve always had to come back in August to prepare for the school year.”

In the years after retirement, he served as director of the Bulletin’s scholarship program.

Raised in Bangor, Maine, Mr. Kingsley was a graduate of Berwick Academy and Brown University.

Surviving are two daughters, Sara Taylor and Margaret Blake; a second son, Samuel K. Scovil; several grandchildren and a sister. Memorial services will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martin’s Lane.
— The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thurs. 12/03/1981.

“Mere words are incapable of expressing sufficient gratitude toward someone who has made the Academy so much a part of his life that he, himself, in turn, has become an inseparable part of our school.

The class of 1965 is Mr. Kingsley's last graduating class. To him and Mrs. Kingsley we dedicate this yearbook — the smallest of tokens, yet our most suitable expression of thanks.”
— CHA Class of 1965, The Caerulean.

Mr. Kingsley was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret Mitchell (née McMaster) Kingsley, who died June 3, 1930; and his second wife, Dorothy Lee (née Scovil) Kingsley, who died in 1980.
— Ian C. Mills, from research.

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He will be remembered for his quick wit, easy laugh, embrace of all things cultural, the quality of his relationships, and the intense personal presence he devoted to everyone, years after professional responsibility dictated. For those in his life, he forever offered his heart and house. Chris’ family will treasure the boundless love, inspiration, encouragement, support, and culinary delights he provided.

He will be greatly missed by all, especially by his surviving wife, Sue; his kids, Laura, Barbi, and Jennifer; his step-kids, Burton and Clara; and his nine grandkids.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when an in-person gathering can offer more joy than risk.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Chris’ memory may be made to the UCCS Theatreworks (Colorado Springs), Fountain Valley School of Colorado, or Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation.
— The Gazette (Colorado Springs), July 19, 2020.

“He was an excellent colleague and very quick-witted. I remember once he laid into a student who had mocked an easily mockable fellow teacher, the Latiniste Ignatius "Lou" Stojowski. What a performance. We (there were a couple of other teachers there) were all stunned because it was a bit out of character for Chris to be enraged. When he had finished, we all stood stunned and chastened. And then, after a pause he walked away in a perfect imitation of Lou’s walk. His verbal mimicry was the best I ever knew. Another teacher, Stan Szczurek, was from middle Europe (I think possibly Czechoslovakia). Stan spoke excellent English with the slightest of accents and Chris had a bit where he played Stan explaining that he didn't have an accent with his accent. We, fellow faculty at a time when unprofessional behavior ran rampant, were amused.

He was truly a dedicated teacher at a time of mightily low salaries. Over the years post-CHA, I ran into him at occasional national teacher conferences. Once he tried and almost succeeded in recruiting me to a school in Colorado. He is a colleague I will always remember with fondness.

I recently remembered Chris Lowell’s definition of an expert as, ‘A son of a bitch from out-of-state with slides.’ They would drone at us at various conferences.”
— John McIlvain (faculty), 24 July 2020.

“In addition to his acting ability, Chris was an excellent rackets man, especially squash which I'm sure he helped coach. He was a member of a strong Language Dept. that included Jonathan French, Ted Wright and Ted Rorer. Good memories of Chris.”
— Jim Talbot (faculty), 24 July 2020.

“Chris was a terrific friend, colleague, and mentor to me. I have so many wonderful memories of Chris, both during our time together at CHA and long thereafter. I was fortunate enough to be a colleague of his in a collegial French department consisting of Chris, Ted Wright, Jonathan French and me. We had a great time together both professionally and socially.

Nothing I can say here will do justice to the friendship that Chris and I enjoyed, and I am terribly saddened by his passing. Here are a couple of vignettes that I will share with you. After leaving my teaching role at CHA, I attended Wharton to get my MBA. I was in a marketing class and was charged with developing an advertising campaign for a consumer product. I recruited John McIlvain to produce a 30-second TV spot and, of course, recruited Chris to be the actor in the piece. The film was a smash hit and helped me secure a good grade in the class.

A while later, my wife and I had moved to Washington Crossing, and I had endured an athletic accident (squash ball direct hit in the eye — long before protective eyeware was found to be a good idea). The protocol for the injury was to have patches on both eyes and to lie perfectly still, flat on one’s back, in bed for one week. One evening during the ordeal there was a knock at the door — and there was Chris Lowell, who had driven out to Bucks County, one hour away, for a supportive visit. I was blown away by his thoughtfulness.

In the many years since then, Chris and I have stayed in touch, often exchanging emails to catch up on what was going on in our lives. I hadn't heard from him lately and am chagrined that I hadn't reached out to him in the past several months. He was indeed a star and I cherish the moments we had together.”
— Ted Rorer (faculty), 24 July 2020.

“I remember well his good sense of humor, his acting ability, and his amazing gift for accents.

When I was putting together a slide show of my natural history photographs for Creative Expression Night, I asked Chris to provide a narrative of a boring teacher droning on and on. In retrospect, I realize that could have been an insulting request, but he didn't take it that way and rose to the occasion magnificently. As the tape deck rolled (yes, in the days of reel-to-reel), he droned on for 15 or 20 minutes without a script and with all kinds of self-mocking pretention and funny double-entendres imbedded in his off-the-cuff narrative. It was just what I had hoped for, and better.

About ten years ago, he contacted me to see if I could help him find acting jobs in Philadelphia where he could impersonate Ben Franklin. I regret that I was never able to do so (since there was already quite a supply of such actors in Philadelphia). But I enjoyed catching up with him by phone. He was a good teacher and a very caring person.”
— Bob Peck (classmate), 24 July 2020.

“Watching Christopher Lowell play Shylock in Theatreworks’ 2011 production of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ under the tent at Rock Ledge Ranch was transformative for me. I had never really understood Shylock before. Indeed, I had never understood Shakespeare as clearly before. When Shakespeare’s words came out of Christopher’s mouth, it was like they were being translated into a language I could instantly comprehend.

I was happy to award Christopher my final Denver Post Ovation Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama. Christopher was a titan in the Colorado Springs theatre community. Word came down today that Christopher has passed away, and we are all the poorer for it. While he played bad guys like Shylock as if he was wearing a second skin, as Murray Ross once put it: ‘In another life, he might even have been as lovable as Ben Franklin’ (another favorite role). R.I.P., Christopher.”
— John Moore Theatre Coverage, 15 July 2020.

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He was an active member of the Tafton Fire Company, serving for a time as president and on the board of directors. He also was active on the Lake Wallenpaupack Lakewatch Association, serving on its board. He was also Flotilla Commander, U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 15-04, Scranton, PA.

Jim also enjoyed ten winters in Bonita Beach, FL. He is survived by a sister, Betty Anne McGlinn-Strobel, Whitfield; and two brothers, John F. McGlinn, Jr., Naples, FL and Terrence J. McGlinn, Sr., Sinking Spring, PA. Fourteen nieces and nephews also survive him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Whitfield. Entombment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Avenue West Reading, and Thursday from 9 to 10 A.M. in St. Ignatius Church.

Contributions may be made to the McGlinn Cancer Center, c/o Reading Hospital, P.O. Box 16052, Reading, PA 19612 or to the Tafton Fire Company, P.O. Box 5, Tafton, PA 18464. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com
— The Philadelphia Inquirer, 27 Dec. 2007.

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John is remembered by his students as a life force, mentor and guide, an exuberant, generous and positive spirit, a friend who encouraged and inspired students to follow their talents and their hearts. He followed them on social media throughout his life and often attended class reunions.

In 1976, John purchased a home in Georgetown, ME, where he vacationed with his three sons. He lived on Martha’s Vineyard and in Georgetown before moving to Sparkill, NY, in 1980, to join the English Department of Dwight-Englewood School (Pre-K to 12), Englewood, NJ. Here he quickly became known as a lively intellect and generous contributor to school life. He was a winning and inventive JV football coach and a creative force behind such activities as Underworld Day.

In 1982, John joined the faculty of Portledge School (Pre-K to 12) in Matinecock/Locust Valley, NY, as Chair of the English Department. In 1984, he married Elizabeth Bacon, née House, and settled in Huntington. In his tenure at Portledge, John received more Faculty Recognition Awards than any teacher in the school’s history. He coached tennis, directed formal and informal dramatic productions, advised the school newspaper, and led the faculty both formally and informally.

As was true in his previous schools, John was both mentor and inspiration to all of his students, making use of a pioneering laptop program to enrich and expand his teaching and his own technical skills. Also while at Portledge, he published a novel, Worth Avenue⁴ (Putnam), loosely based upon the life and world of his grandmother, "Winnie" Dodge Seyburn.

Upon his retirement in 2004 from Portledge School, John moved his family permanently to Georgetown, ME, where a summer cabin became a family compound and sculpture garden. Here he indulged his love of cooking, gardening and boating, of family gatherings, and of the visual and the performing arts. He was, with Elizabeth, a generous supporter of Preble Street in Portland, which serves and supports the city’s homeless and most vulnerable, of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera. They hosted numerous visits by musicians from the Heifetz International Music Institute, bringing performances to the Georgetown Central School (Pre-K to 6) and the community.

John also renewed his dedication to his own writing, learning Latin in order to self-publish a collection of loose translations of Horace. This was followed by a memoir of his early years, Graveled Ways, self-published in 2013. John’s last work, Fighting Time, a collection of poems that spans 50 years, is soon to be published.

Upon his death, John was celebrated by the Georgetown community for his ready smile, quick wit, generous spirit, creativity, empathy, humility, thankfulness, and tireless support of and contributions to life in the community. He successfully chaired the Comprehensive Plan Commission, served on the Board of the Georgetown Island Education Foundation, was a member of the Recreation Commission and a founding member of the Garden Club.

He inspired many others in the community to become more involved in governance and to follow in his footsteps; his leadership was recognized by the town with the 2021 Citizen of the Year Award. John is fondly remembered for writing, directing and filming The Coronosaurus Rex videos, a humorously serious guide to surviving COVID-19, for his fun-loving participation in events on land and sea, and for his encouragement of dialogue and thought in all things and at all times.

John is survived by his wife Elizabeth, his children Edward Morton (Tamra McIlvain), Samuel Scott (Miranda Kany), Joshua Mitchell (Deborah Crocker) and adopted daughter Willa Sky-Bacon Freer (Patrick Freer); his siblings: brother David Dodge McIlvain, half-brother Miguel de Bragança⁵ (Barbara “Suki” de Bragança), and half-sister Sydney Cheston Winthrop (Jonathan); his grandchildren Angus, Aidan, Beatrice, Millicent, Jasper, Ginger, Patrick and Winifred; and three generations of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was predeceased by his younger brother, SFC Edward Morton “Doc” McIlvain III, who died during combat in South Vietnam on 18 October 1966, at age 21.

John was the generous and loving head of this large family, a man who cared for, listened to, laughed with, and patiently advised us all. He was Sir John, a safe harbor, the wise keeper of family stories. He is deeply missed.

There will be a memorial service and reception for family and friends on April 29, 2023, 1:00 PM, at The Church of the Redeemer, Pennswood and New Gulph Roads, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 (see Google map). Copies of John’s memoir and poems will be available. The family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to Preble Street (55 Portland Street, Portland, ME 04101) or to the Georgetown Island Education Foundation/John McIlvain Literary Arts Fund (Box 352, Georgetown, ME 04548).
— Elizabeth “Betsy” Sky-McIlvain, Jan. 2023

Footnotes:
(1) John Francis Dodge was John McIlvain's maternal great-grandfather.
(2) Read a fascinating article about Winifred “Peggy” McIlvain de Bragança Cheston at New York Social Diary.
(3) Winifred “Peggy” Gray and her sister Suzanne Dodge Gray were born to William John Gray Jr. and Winifred "Winnie" Dodge. When their mother Winnie remarried in 1922 to Wesson Seyburn, the two girls (then ages 5 and 2, respectively) assumed the surname Seyburn.
(4) Worth Avenue is an upscale shopping and dining district in Palm Beach, Florida. Comparisons have been made to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
(5) Miguel de Bragança was born 09/25/1951 to Peggy during her second marriage (to João “John” de Bragança). He is a descendant of Dom Miguel de Bragança (1699-1724), 1st Duke of Lafões, son of King Pedro II (Portugal) and the French lady Anne Armande Pastre de Verger.

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He founded the Chestnut Hill Academy Bagpipers in 1965. The Pipers, whose home and chanter practice room was situated in the CHA basement next to the Jordan Building connector, regaled spectators during half-time at home football games, competed against other pipe bands at the Delaware Highland Gathering, and were invited to play at occasional private parties on the Hill.

At the time of this writing, it's unclear whether Bill continued to pursue his interest in piping after moving to Salisbury School in the fall of 1971. Such activity is not recorded in their yearbooks.

Reeves’ last known residence was in North Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Although the Connecticut Department of Health reports that Reeves was never married, Newspapers.com (a division of Ancestry) indicates that he married Miss Marguerite Garrabrant Stulb on 27 Dec. 1969 in Chestnut Hill.

Click here to learn about the history of the name Reeves. There are perhaps a dozen or more variations on the Reeves family crest; view one such example here.
— Ian C. Mills, from research including Ancestry.com

“Without any doubt, Bill Reeves made a huge impact on me during my time on the Hilltop. Mr. Reeves took me under his wing and made sure I was always okay. Those evening one-on-one algebra sessions in his apartment got me through that class.”
— Greg Erdmann, Salisbury School ’83

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Mr. Walker, habitually dressed in a gray suit and bow tie, operated in a funky, wonderfully unsterile classroom that was, at one time or another, cluttered with Victorian paintings and portraits, a cuckoo clock, a live parrot, a roll-top desk, and other artifacts that reflected his travels, readings, and beliefs. “It was like a museum,” Thompson said.

But he was more than a conservative dresser whose classroom was a warehouse for show-and-tell items. He was the kind of teacher who made an impression; who influenced the lives of his students. “I was going to bring my new wife to meet him,” Thompson said. “Mr. Walker made me the man I am today.”

Outside the classroom, Mr. Walker was active with the Morris Arboretum. He belonged to the St. Andrew’s Society and the Society of Colonial Wars. He is survived by a brother, Nicholas, and a sister, Helen Kenefick. His wife of more than 40 years, Elizabeth, died in 2000. Services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Memorial donations may be made to Chestnut Hill Academy, in care of Betsy Longstreth, director of development, 500 W. Willow Grove Ave., Philadelphia 19118.
— The Cliff Island Seagull, Summer 2002.

“Perot was the most influential teacher, especially our nature awareness classes in Carpenter Woods for all the birds.”
— Paul Warren (classmate)

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Throughout his life Ted’s passions were his family, friends, a menagerie of family pets, nature, sports, theater, chess, word play, and all things French. He was an avid reader of English and French prose and poetry, and loved all kinds of music. For many years Ted was active on stage at Stagecrafters and Playcrafters community theaters, and was in faculty shows at CHA. He loved spending time at and restoring “The Wright Place,” a family residence for over 130 years in Island Heights, NJ, and appreciated his relationships with former classmates, students, colleagues, and fellow Stapeley residents who continued to visit him.

Ted is survived by his four children, Suzanne Wright of Philadelphia; Elizabeth Craig Wright of Richmond, VT; Stephanie Denson, wife of John Denson, of Indianapolis, IN; and Christopher Wright of Wayne, PA; grandchildren Taylor and Hannah Denson; brother John S. “Jack” and sister-in-law Tove Wright and their large family in Sweden; former wife Nancy Wright of Bellville, TX; and his devoted companion of many years, Judith Brndjar of Macungie, PA.

A memorial service was held at Haverford Friends Meeting (855 Buck Lane, Haverford, PA) on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Philadelphia, PA or the Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals in Radnor, PA.
— The Philadelphia Inquirer, 24 Jan. 2013.

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She holds the hard-earned distinction of Master Craftsman from the Embroidery Guild of America and she has filled the world around her with the work of her hands and shared her skill and passion by teaching others.

From the time she was a girl, Ellie spent the summer on Squirrel Island, which ever since has been her spiritual home and family. Ellie is survived by her brother Tom, his wife Jean and their children and grandchildren; by her son Jeff and his children Drew, Nick, Will and Sophie; and by her son Rip, his wife Beth and their children Emily, Andrew, Zach, Molly and Lucy.

Ellie wanted to be remembered along with other Squirrel Islanders at the first chapel service this July (2013) on Squirrel Island. In the meantime, if you wish, the family suggests you remember her with a contribution to the Squirrel Island Preservation Foundation (One Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101) or your favorite Squirrel Island organization or activity, c/o Rob Hopkins, P.O. Box 85, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons Harrington and Hall Funeral Home, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay, ME 04537.
— Boothbay Register, 8 Jan. 2013 (and) The Chestnut Hill Local, 13 Mar. 2013.

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She was a remarkable woman who persevered in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Her keen intelligence, wry sense of humor, and love and care for others will stay in the hearts of her family and many friends.

Anne is survived by loving nieces and nephews: Robert L. Kingsley, Michael Kingsley, Diana Kingsley, Frances Phinney, William Gresh, David Gresh, Christina Taylor Overing, Elma McKay, Anna Healey, Frank Johnston, Cynthia Dunlap, Mary McCue, Joan Kearney, Patricia Kearney, John Kearney, Mike Kearney, Emily Eklund, Sam Scovil, Alec Scovil, and their families; stepdaughters Meg Torrey and Anne Torrey; and her sisters-in-law, Anne Kingsley and Barbara Scovil. In her later years she enjoyed the friendship and care of a very special goddaughter, Diana Beausang.

She is predeceased by her first husband, Donald A.W. Blake [d. 03/02/72, age 46]; second husband Philip C. Torrey [d. 10/19/98]; her brothers and sisters Robert A. Kingsley Jr., Sally Taylor, Samuel Scovil; and her children Geoffrey Kingsley Blake and Sara “Sally” Wetherell Blake.

Memorial gifts in honor of Margaret Kingsley Blake Torrey can be sent to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118. ATTN: Development Office.

The family is planning a memorial service for the summer of 2022, when she will be laid to rest at Fernhill Cemetery in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
— Jacob F. Ruth Funeral Directors (link)

* According to his nephew Robert L. “Robin” Kingsley, our former CHA headmaster Robert A. Kingsley gave everyone in his family nicknames — including his children. Margaret’s dual nicknames came from the Mary Pickford 1924 silent film, Little Annie Rooney.

While Margaret’s (“Anne’s”) full name shown at the start of this article includes her maiden name Kingsley, her first married name Blake, and second married name Torrey, it obscures her middle name given at birth — which is Menzies. That middle name honors her grandmother, Margaret McGowan Menzies, descended from Clan Menzies of Scotland.
— Ian C. Mills, from research including Ancestry.com

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