Obituaries

– Compiled by April Miller –

Glen Alexander

Glen Alexander, a longtime Rye resident, died at home March 10. The cause was cancer. He was 52.

Mr. Alex-ander was born June 12, 1954, in the Bronx, to George and Seena Alexander. After graduating from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, he worked as an architectural draftsman and designer, most recently for the Melville Corporation.

He married his wife Diane on Dec. 7, 1974. They moved to Rye in 1989.

Mr. Alexander will be remembered for his selfless actions, his love of the Christmas season, and his devotion to his family, friends, and dog Snowball.

He is survived by his loving wife; brothers Dale, Gary and Bain; a sister, Judy; his mother, Seena; a brother and sister-in-law, George and Janice; nine nieces and nephews; and devoted close friends.

A Mass was held March 13 at Resurrection Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 27718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or to Calvary Hospital Hospice, 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461.

Gertrude Miller

Gertrude Miller, a longtime Rye resident, passed away Feb. 23, at the age of 106.

Born Sept. 26, 1900, in New York City, to Mary Dolan and William P. Fay, she was the last of their five children.

After completing high school and two years of business school, she married Alexander Miller, a salesman for the White Rose Tea Company. Mrs. Miller worked for the Brooklyn Union Gas Company, retiring in 1971. Before moving to The Osborn in 1986, she lived in the same house in Brooklyn for 62 years. Mr. Miller passed away in 1956.

Mrs. Miller took pride in her appearance and was always well dressed. When she moved to The Osborn at the age of 86, she was physically active and enjoyed walks into town with friends.

She was quite witty all her days. On the occasion of the celebration of her 105th birthday, when Matthew Anderson, an Osborn administrator, got down on his knee to enable him to speak closely into Mrs. Miller's good ear, she quipped, “Young man, are you getting down on your knee to me?”

She and her husband had no children; Mrs. Miller is survived by a nephew who lives in Florida. Staff and residents of The Osborn said they consider themselves to be her family and are honored to have known her.

A memorial service in her honor will be held at The Osborn in the spring.

Robert Kirk Ward

Robert Kirk Ward, M.D., formerly of Rye, died Feb. 24 at Greenwich Hospital. It was his 82nd birthday.

Born in St. Albans, Vt., to John Ward and Mable McCarthy Ward, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Vermont, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He earned a medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1951.

As a member of the Armed Forces during World War II, Dr. Ward spent a year at the University of Minnesota, learning Japanese. He was then sent overseas as a Japanese interpreter for the Armed Forces Radio.

He met his future wife, Eleanor DeMartin, while he working as an intern at United Hospital, where she was a nursing supervisor. They married Nov. 29, 1952 and moved to Rye. They moved to Greenwich soon after, but Dr. Ward practiced medicine in Rye for more than 35 years. According to his wife, “My husband felt very close to the people of Rye and loved working there.”

He was recently honored as a 50-year Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He was very involved at Second Congregational Church in Greenwich, serving in several leadership positions.

Dr. Ward is survived by his wife, Eleanor DeMartin; a daughter, Susan Ward Raposa and her husband David, of Tiverton, R.I.; a daughter, Sally Ward McGovern and her husband Kenneth, of Avon, Conn.; and grandsons Conor and Gavin McGovern.

A memorial service was held March 3 at Second Congregational Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dr. Ward's memory to Second Congregational Church, 139 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830.