Chaloner P. Spencer ’44

Chaloner Spencer died July 26, 1998, after a long bout with emphysema. He was 74. A native of Brattleboro, Vt., he began music studies with Roger Sessions while at Princeton H.S. Later at Princeton, he majored in music and belonged to Court Club. Spence left Princeton in 1943, entered the Air Corps, became a Chinese interpreter for the Chinese Training Command, and returned to Princeton for his AB in 1947. He then went to the U. of California on a teaching fellowship and earned his master's in music.

Settling in Conway, Mass., Spence taught high school English, joined Wesleyan U.'s music department, directed admissions at Hartt College of Music, and in 1961 joined the faculty of Hartford College for Women. He retired in 1990. Among his many outside interests, music was most prominent. He composed music, for many years wrote program notes for the Pioneer Valley Symphony, and served on its board. A creative cook, Spence, with his wife, owned and operated a successful specialty catering business for 23 years.

To his wife, Helen; his son, Anthony; his daughter, Elizabeth Forkel; his brother, Gordon; his stepfather, two grandchildren, and niece the class extends its sympathy.

The Class of 1944