In Memoriam: John H. Thatcher, Jr.
John H. Thatcher, Jr
John H. Thatcher Jr., 86, passed away peacefully at home on August 14, 2017. Born on April 18, 1931, he was the son of the late John H Thatcher Sr. and Eleanor (Bonbright) Thatcher. He was raised in Englewood, NJ, settled in Chatham NJ and moved to Hillsborough NJ in 2012. He graduated from Princeton University in 1953.
An avid fisherman, John spent many summers in this childhood and adult years fishing on Fishers Island NY. His love of the Island and passion for preserving the Island’s clean waters and natural habitats spurred him to co-found the Fishers Island Conservancy in 1985 and served as the Conservancy’s president for many years. Throughout his tenure as Conservancy president, he tirelessly advocated for preservation and conservation of the Island’s clean water and ecosystems, and will be remembered for working with the “mosquito girls” to reduce the mosquito population on the Island through non-toxic control measures. A stroke, sustained while fishing on Fishers Island in 2005 prevented him from returning to his favorite Island and fishing grounds.
John was a devoted husband to Mary, father to Monica (Eric) and Marisa (Chris), grandfather to Gwen, Ellie, Abby, Bridgette, PJ, Kathrynne, MacKenzie, Liam, Alison, great grandfather to Brantley and Corbyn, brother to Llewellyn, and uncle to nieces Evelyn and Kate and nephews Chris, Michael, Rich, and James. He was predeceased by his brother Richard Thatcher. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
In Memoriam: Ellie Kelly
Ellie Kelly
Ellie Kelly spent her lifetime as a conservationist and a preservationist. She was one of the founders of Scenic America in 1986 and defended America’s scenic landscapes in the legislative chambers in Washington. Ellie was an honorary board member of the Fishers Island Conservancy and received The Conservation Award in 2022. On June 22nd a memorial service was held for Ellie at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Fishers Island and her grandson, Whitt Kelly, read two of Ellie’s poems which incorporated aspects of nature. The following was one of her poems:
Our partner the Earth
enfolds a bare black speck
and creates a miracle onto a cold tiny seed
a stem, some green and a final bust of unfolding vibrancy
waving with others daily in the sun
and when their days are done
they bow quietly into the Earth’s embrace
just because they have been here
there will be Earth’s renewal
we to Earth as dust return
to be the soul of the next generation’s miracle