“They will be remembered as we knew them in the full freshness and vigor of their young manhood. And as the years roll on and the seasons come and go, each evening the school will gather here for its few minutes of worship, prayer, and praise. And each morning some will be here to celebrate the great sacrifice which carries with it the hope of the world. Then in the words of an unknown poet –
May they rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon them.”
– Samuel S. Bartlett
Peter M. Pirnie, 92, who served The Chase Manhattan Bank for 37 years – including posts in London, Brussels, Kuwait and Liberia – died on November 17, 2024, in Woodstock, GA. A Massachusetts native, he attended South Kent School and graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine in 1955. He became a captain in the U.S. … Read more
Dear South Kent Family, It is with profound sadness that I share news of the passing of Elizabeth “Liz” K. Richards, the beloved wife of our 5th Head of School, Noble “Nobby” F. Richards ’49. Liz passed away peacefully on Monday afternoon at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, surrounded by her sons and members of her … Read more
Henry “Hank” Steele, age 88 of Indio, California died peacefully with his wife at his side on 17th of September after a brief illness. He was born December 10, 1935, in Princeton, New Jersey to Hollins McKim Steele and Susan Cornelia Duffield. Hank spent his formative years at South Kent School in South Kent, CT … Read more
Allerton “Tony” Garthwaite Smith, 72, died peacefully from a heart attack at his home at the Onteora Club in Tannersville, New York, on August 20, 2024. Tony was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 21, 1951, the eldest son of Nancy (Ward) Smith and the late Peter G. Smith. He spent his childhood with … Read more
Clifford Leonard, Jr., 73, of Columbia, SC died on August 15, 2024 after a short illness. He was a graduate of Aiken Preparatory School in Aiken, SC, a 1969 graduate of South Kent School in South Kent, Connecticut and a 1973 graduate of Sewanee, University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He pursued graduate studies … Read more
Stephan Salisbury, 77, of Swarthmore, retired longtime senior cultural writer for The Inquirer, essayist, and author, died Saturday, July 20, 2024 of lung cancer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Stephan Percy Salisbury was born March 20, 1947, in Mamaroneck, N.Y. He went to boarding school in Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s degree … Read more
Born in Cincinnati, OH, Ralph grew up on Cape Cod in Truro, MA as the son of noted artist and painter, Cleveland L. Woodward and his wife Emily Crosby Woodward. Ralph was the youngest of the 3 children. His older brother, Cleveland, was 10 years older and his sister, Eloise was 6 years older. Cleveland … Read more
Jim King passed away peacefully on March 31, 2024, with his family by his side. He had struggled with Dementia for the last several years but, through it all, was polite, cheerful and comfortable. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, daughters Sara and Laura, son James, their spouses, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. … Read more
After a long illness, Robert “Rabbit” Leighton, 77, died on March 24, 2024 in Sewickley, Pa. where he had spent most of his life. Serving as class president in his senior year at South Kent, Rob is remembered by his classmates for his humor, ever-present good cheer, and his dramatic skills as the romantic, “on-the-make” … Read more
James M. Garnett ‘74, and Treasurer of The South Kent School Corporation was a devoted son of South Kent, Jim arrived on the Hillside in the fall of 1970 and soon became a leader on and off the athletic fields and Cuyler Rink. Jim was captain of the Varsity Hockey Team and served as Senior Prefect … Read more