USA > Connecticut > History of Connecticut, Volume IV > Part 24
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Mr. Cleary too attended Stamford public schools and graduated from its high school. He then entered Manhattan College, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Business Administration in 1938. For his professional training he attended Fordham Law School, where in 1941 he took his degree of Bachelor of Laws.
In 1942, Mr. Cleary entered the United States Army. With the rating of staff sergeant, he served stateside on security work for the Intelligence Corps. He received his honorable discharge in 1946.
During the brief interim between his admission to the bar and his army service, Mr. Cleary had been associated with E. Gaynor Brennan, an attorney. On his return to civilian life, he joined the firm of Curtis, Brinkerhoff and Barrett, with which he has remained since. Offices are in the Town House in Stamford. He assumed his duties as associate professor of law at Fordham Law School in 1955.
Mr. Cleary served as assistant clerk in the Connecticut General Assembly in 1947, and he was clerk in the House of Representatives throughout the 1949-1951 session. During 1951-1952, he was prose- cutor of the city court at Stamford. He serves on the board of direc- tors of The Stamford Fidelity Bank and Trust Company, and is also
CHARLES M. DOBBS
MARJORIE A. DOBBS
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a director of the Visiting Nurse Association. In addition to the na- tional and regional bar associations, he is a member of the All Stam- ford Club and the Woodway Country Club. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic.
Mrs. Cleary, the former Mary Barrett, was born in Stamford on June 29, 1919, and is a daughter of Frank P. and Frances (Magee) Barrett. Her father, born at Litchfield on January 12, 1892, is a law- yer, member of the firm of Curtis, Brinkerhoff and Barrett. He has been very active in civic affairs, and has served as chairman of numerous municipal bodies in Stamford, including the planning board and the finance commission. Frances Magee, whom he married, was born in Stamford in 1892 and attended private schools there. Their daughter, Mrs. Cleary, attended Grey Court Academy, and Mary- mount College at Tarrytown, where she took her degree of Bachelor of Arts. She became the wife of T. Ward Cleary in a ceremony in Stamford on March 14, 1942. The couple are the parents of three children: I. Ward F., born on September 29, 1943. He is attending New Canaan Country School. 2. Frank B., born on April 9, 1947; also a student at New Canaan Country School. 3. Dennis, born Febru- ary 24, 1950. He is attending St. Cecilia's Parochial School.
CHARLES MARTIN DOBBS
President of the Monarch Laundries, Incorporated, of New Haven, Connecticut, for sixty years, and the founder of the firm in 1898, Mr. Dobbs has been an outstanding laundryman, not only be- cause of the many years he has been in the field, but also because of his work in trade organizations. A former president of the Connec- ticut State Laundry Owners Association, and a former president and a director of the American Institute of Laundry, he is also a member of the National Institute of Dry Cleaners. In semi-retirement since 1951, he is a former president of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Madison, Connecticut, and he was active in the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Dobbs was born in Newburgh, New York, on August 13, 1874, the son of Andrew B. Dobbs and of Ella M. Dobbs. His father was a member of Captain Hawkins' Zouaves during the Civil War, and he was active in Masonry and other organizations. Active for many years as a camera manufacturer, he died about 1908. Mr. Dobbs's mother died about 1928.
Mr. Dobbs founded Monarch Laundries, Incorporated, in New
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Haven on May 1, 1898. He served as president of the company even after his semi-retirement in 1951, and he marked more than sixty years as a laundryman. His social connections included membership in the Governors Foot Guards and the Union League Club.
Mr. Dobbs's wife is Marjorie Ann Cobleigh, born at Baker, Montana, on February 25, 1915. She graduated from high school and was a photographer's model from 1932 to 1934. She is now executive vice president and manager of Monarch Laundries, Incorporated, and her outstanding work won for Monarch the "Parade of Progress" management award in 1958 as the laundry in the United States and the World that had made the most progress from 1956 to 1958. Other awards conferred were the Dry Cleaning Award and, in 1957, the National Fleet Safety Award of the National Safety Council. The contest was sponsored by the trade journal of the laundry organiza- tion. Mrs. Dobbs has been executive vice president and general man- ager of Monarch Laundries since 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs have two children: I. Charles Jack, born at Kansas City, Missouri, on July 14, 1935, attended Sheffield Academy and Taft Preparatory School. He studied at Washington and Lee University in 1953 and 1954 and served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1959. 2. Joyce Ann, born at Kansas City, Missouri, on September 13, 1936, is now office manager of Monarch Laundries. She married P. Edward Magnuson of Brooklyn, New York, son of the late P. Edward Magnuson and Mrs. Ingrid Magnuson. Mr. Mag- nuson is the owner of Magnuson Products of Brooklyn, New York and Toronto, Canada The Dobbs home is at Candlewood Isle, Con- necticut.
JAMES EDWARD MURRAY, 3RD
Since being admitted to the Connecticut Bar, James Edward Mur- ray, 3rd, has practiced at Fairfield, having his offices at 1177 Post Road. He is a veteran of service in the United States Air Force.
Born at Bridgeport on November 28. 1927, he is a son of James Edward, Jr., and Anna (Novak) Murray. His father too was born in Bridgeport, in 1904, and is an automobile dealer at Fairfield. Mrs. Murray was born in 1906 at Stratford. Attending Fairfield public schools, James E. Murray, 3rd, went on to his advanced studies at the University of Fairfield, where he received his degree of Bachelor of Science in 1951. His studies were interrupted by service in the Uni- ted States Air Force, in which he enlisted in 1946. Attaining the rank
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of corporal, he served until 1948. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree, Mr. Murray went to the University of Connecticut for his professional studies, and received his degree of Bachelor of Laws there in 1956.
In that year he was admitted to the Connecticut Bar, and in Sep- tember commenced his practice at Fairfield. A member of the Fair- field Bar Association, he serves on its executive board, and he is also a member of the Bridgeport Bar Association and the Connecticut State Bar Association.
A Democrat, he has become active in public affairs, and is cur- rently serving on the Fairfield Board of Finance, and is Representative to the General Assembly of Connecticut. He held offices in the Young Democrats Club of Fairfield. He is vice chairman of Sasco District of the Boy Scouts of America, and his memberships include the Chamber of Commerce of Fairfield and the lodge of the Knights of Columbus. He is of Roman Catholic faith.
At Bridgeport in August, 1952, James Edward Murray, 3rd, married Winifred Lavin of that city, daughter of John and Mary (Slattery) Lavin. She received her education in Bridgeport schools and at the University of Bridgeport.
THEODORE VAILL
President, treasurer and managing editor of the "Winsted Even- ing Citizen" of Winsted, Connecticut, and associated with the news- paper since May, 1933, Mr. Vaill is a corporator of the Winsted Sav- ings Bank and a director of the Clark and Vaill Insurance Agency, Inc., and of the Citizen Printing Company. He has been active in local government and has held the post of chairman of the Town of Win- chester Board of Tax Review since 1932.
Mr. Vaill was born in Winsted on September 19, 1905, the son of Dudley L. Vaill and of Leila S. H. Vaill. Both of his parents were born in Winsted, his father on August 30, 1873, and his mother on August 9, 1875. His mother died in Winsted on October 25, 1948. Mr. Vaill attended the Fourth School and the Gilbert School in Win- sted, and then studied at Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire and Stearns School in Mount Vernon, New Hampshire. He then attended Amherst College and studied journalism at George Washington University in Washington, D. C., but did not receive a degree.
General manager of the Clark and Vaill Insurance Agency from
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1928 to 1933, Mr. Vaill became manager and treasurer of the "Win- sted Evening Citizen" in 1933, and now holds the posts of president, treasurer and managing editor. A member of Union Hose Company No. 1, Winsted Fire Department (volunteer) since 1927 and deputy chief since 1951, he is a past president of the Rotary Club, having served in this post in 1946 and 1947, and he is the holder of a per- fect attendance record since. 1941. He has been a member of Elks Lodge No. 844 since 1930 and also holds membership in Chi Psi fra- ternity of Amherst College. He was a deacon of the Second Congrega- tional Church of Winsted and a member of various committees until a merger brought about the formation of the Church of Christ ( Bap- tist and Congregational) in 1957, where he continues as a deacon.
Mr. Vaill was married at Winsted on October 27, 1939 to Evelyn F. Weatherhead of Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, the daughter of Wilfred A. Weatherhead and of Mary A. Weatherhead. Both of her parents are natives of Canada. Mrs. Vaill is a registered nurse and graduated from Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, B. C. Mr. and Mrs. Vaill have two children : 1. Judith B., born on October 1, 1940. 2. Stephen G., born on March 1, 1943. Both children were born in Winsted.
THADDEUS GUILFORD COWELL, JR.
Active in the practice of law in Westport since 1955, and a prac- ticing attorney since 1941, Mr. Cowell is a member of the Norwalk- Westport-Wilton Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. A former director of the Cancer Prevention Committee in New York City and a director of the Humane Society of the United States, Connecticut Branch, he is active as a Republican in politics and is a member of the Westport R.T.M.
Mr. Cowell was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 12, 1912, the son of Thaddeus Guilford Cowell and of Lydia ( Bauer ) Cowell. His father was born in Albany, New York, on May 5, 1881, and was a trial lawyer with the firm of Lord, Day and Lord, New York City. He died in 1939. Mr. Cowell's mother was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 12, 1887.
Mr. Cowell graduated from Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School, Brooklyn, in 1930 and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Union College in 1934. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Fordham University Law School in 1941. He began
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the practice of law in New York City, where he was associated with the firm of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam and Roberts, and it was in 1955 that he established his law office in Westport. A member of Delta Phi fraternity and of the Navy League, he enjoys social connections as a member of the Westport Kiwanis Club, and the Silver Spring Country Club of Ridgefield. He is a member of the Saugatuck Con- gregational Church.
Mr. Cowell was married in New York City on September 12, 1942, to Mary Cary Monks, born in New York City on June 5, 191I, the daughter of Richard A. Monks and of Emeline (Cary) Monks. Her father was born in New York City in 1870, was an engineer and a yachtsman, and died in 1942. Mrs. Cowell's mother was born in Bos- ton, Massachusetts in 1872 and died in 1944.
Mrs. Cowell graduated from Greenwich Academy in 1929 and she is active in the Humane Society work and in the Church Guild.
FREDERICK POPE, JR.
Majority leader of the House of Representatives of the State of Connecticut in the 1957 session and a member of the General As- sembly since 1953, Mr. Pope served as a member of the Interim Com- mittee on Rules and Legislative Procedure set up in the 1955 session of the General Assembly, and in 1951 and 1952 he served as chair- man of the Eisenhower for President organization, first for the town of Fairfield, and later for Fairfield County. A member of the law firm of Pullman, Comley, Bradley and Reeves of Bridgeport, Connecti- cut since 1949, he is also a Civil Defense director for the Town of Fairfield and is a former president of the Fairfield Branch, Young Men's Christian Association.
Mr. Pope was born in Scarsdale, New York, on August 12, 1919, the son of Frederick Pope and of Mary (McLaughlin) Pope. His father was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1877, and followed the profession of chemical engineer. He is now retired. Mr. Pope's mother was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1888 and died in 1957. Mr. Pope graduated from Saint Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, and obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Harvard College in 1946. He received the degree of Bachelor of Laws at Harvard University Law School in 1949. During World War II, he served as an officer in the parachute troops. As a captain in the 503rd Parachute Infantry Re- gimental Combat Team, he commanded a battery of parachute field
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artillery in combat in New Guinea and the Philippines, and he parti- cipated in the parachute assault on the island fortress of Corregidor in 1945. He now holds a commission as a Major, Infantry, in the United States Army Reserve. Since his graduation from iaw school, he has practiced law in Bridgeport as an associate and as a member of the firm of Pullman. Comley, Bradley and Reeves.
Mr. Pope is active in many community organizations and is a former president of the Child Guidance Clinic of Greater Bridgeport, Inc. He is a member of the board of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce and of the Bridgeport Young Men's Christian Association. He is also a member of the board of the Fairfield Community Chest and of the Fairfield Country Day School. A member of the Fairfield Lions Club, he also holds membership in the George Alfred Smith Post of the American Legion and the Greenfield Hill Grange, and is a vestryman of Christ Church in Redding, Connecticut.
Mr. Pope was married to Eleanor Sterett (Turnbull), the daugh- ter of Bayard Turnbull and of Margaret Carroll (Jones) Turnbull. Her mother is a resident of Baltimore, Maryland and her father passed away in 1954.
Mr. and Mrs. Pope have two sons: I. Frederick III, born on De- cember 10, 1949. 2. David Sterett, born on April 19, 1955.
WILLIAM BISHOP WOODWARD
Since he returned from military service in World War II, Wil- liam Bishop Woodward has been a partner of his brother in the management of the well-known and long-established Norwalk In- surance firm, J. M. Layton and Company. He holds office as vice president and secretary, has banking connections, and takes a full part in the activities of insurance men's and fraternal groups.
Born at Norwalk on January 17, 1919, he is a son of George L. and Marjorie (Bishop) Woodward. His father too was a native of Norwalk, born in 1872. He was a banker who became president of the National Bank of Norwalk and South Norwalk Savings Bank. He once served as president of the Connecticut Bankers Association, and was also a vice president of the Connecticut State Chamber of Commerce. He was very active in state and local civic affairs, and had served in the Connecticut National Guard. He died in December 1954, but Mrs. Woodward survives him and lives in Norwalk. She was born in New York City in 1872, and formerly was active in the American Red Cross and other Norwalk organizations.
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William B. Woodward completed his preparatory studies at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, where he graduated in 1938. In 1940 he joined the firm of J. M. Layton Company, where he was employed for a year before entering wartime service. He en- tered the army in August, 1941, and after training, served overseas with the 37th Infantry Division in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He was in combat three and a half years, and participated in the cam- paigns in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. He became a staff sergeant in the 148th Infantry, and won the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Pacific Theater Ribbon with three battle stars. Mr. Woodward remained in the army until 1945.
In 1946, shortly after his return, he rejoined J. M. Layton Com- pany, and he and his brother John H. (who is the subject of a sketch in this work) bought the old firm in 1953. It once dealt in real estate as well as insurance, but in more recent years has specialized in in- surance exclusively. William B. Woodward has been vice president and secretary since the brothers acquired ownership. In addition to this executive post, he is a director of the Fairfield County Savings Bank. He is a member of the Norwalk and Connecticut State In- surance Agents associations.
Affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, he is a member of St. John's Lodge, and is a communicant of the Congregational Church in Norwalk. A Republican, he has never sought nor accepted candidacy for public office.
In Norwalk on February 18, 1949, William Bishop Woodward married Elaine Harris. She was born at Norwich on November 6, 1922, daughter of Edwin A. and Dora (Anterton) Harris. Her father, for many years manager of the Connecticut Light and Power Company, is now selling investments for the firm of Eisele and King Libaire Stout and Company in Norwalk. He serves on the board of Norwalk Hospital, and is active in civic affairs. Mrs. Woodward graduated from Norwalk High School and attended Northwestern University. She served in the WAVEs during World War II, being stationed at Floyd Bennett Field, and did not return to college after- wards. Her favorite sport is golf, and she serves as den mother of the local Cub Scout troop. The couple are the parents of three children : I. William Bishop, Jr., who was born in Norwalk on December 21, 1949; attending Honey Hill School. 2. Janet Harris, born June 8, 1951, in Norwalk; also a student at Honey Hill School. 3. Nancy Carol, born July 12, 1955, in Norwalk. The family lives on Ox Yoke Lane in that city.
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MERRITT DAVID VANDERBILT
Merritt David Vanderbilt came to The Greist Manufacturing Company of New Haven in 1942 with varied experience in industry and accounting to his credit. He joined the organization at the execu- tive level, and holds office as president, treasurer and general manager. This long-established firm is the subject of a brief accompanying his- torical sketch. In addition to his connection with this company, Mr. Vanderbilt serves on a number of other boards of directors, in com- munity and welfare as well as business connections.
He is a native of New York City, and was born on July 17, 1893, son of David B. and Anne E. (Campbell) Vanderbilt. Both parents were born at Old Bridge, New Jersey. His father, born there in 1859, was a telegraph operator most of his life, and is now deceased. Mrs. Vanderbilt too is deceased. She was born in 1872.
Early in his life, Merritt D. Vanderbilt's family came to Connec- ticut, and he graduated from Milford High School in 1911. He began his business career as a teller in the Tradesmen's National Bank of New Haven in that year, and remained on its staff until 1916. Dur- ing the year which followed, he was a department head with the Loco- mobile Company of America at Bridgeport, manufacturer of one of the finest quality automobiles of that period. He left to enter military service, and was a sergeant in the United States Army, serving with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.
When he returned to civilian pursuits in 1919, Mr. Vanderbilt became an accountant with the Walk-Over Shoe Company of New Haven. In 1924 he accepted a position as Internal Revenue agent with the United States Treasury Department, with which he re- mained for a year. From 1925 to 1942, he was in private practice as a public accountant and management counsellor.
On the basis of his valuable business experience, Mr. Vanderbilt was asked to assume duties as president, treasurer and general man- ager of The Greist Manufacturing Company of New Haven in 1942. He accepted, and has headed the corporation since. Besides this major business connection, he is a director of the New Haven Gas Company, the First New Haven National Bank, A. C. Gilbert Company, West Haven Buckle Company, and Sargent and Company. He is vice chair- man of The Citizens Action Committee of New Haven. With the ex- ception of the West Haven firm, all of these are New Haven organiza- tions. Mr. Vanderbilt is also president of Air Marine Motors Inc. of Amityville, Long Island and Los Angeles, California, and chairman of the board of Jay Cee Chemical Company of Northford, Connecticut.
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As a part of his role in community service, Mr. Vanderbilt at present holds office as president of the United Fund. He is a director of Grace-New Haven Community Hospital. Active in the Chamber of Commerce, he served on the board of directors of its Manufactur- ers' Division. His memberships include the Quinnipiac Club, the Stratford Historical Society, and the American Legion. He has been a certified public accountant in Connecticut since 1929.
At Milford, on August 29, 1919, Merritt David Vanderbilt mar- ried Florence Birdseye Lewis. She was born at Stratford on Febru- ary 24, 1894, daughter of Dr. George Frederick and Clara M. (Cur- tis) Lewis. Her father, a physician, was a graduate of Trinity Col- lege and of Yale Medical School, and practiced at Stratford until his death. He was born at Trumbull, but Miss Curtis, whom he married, was a native of Stratford. She too is deceased. Mrs. Vanderbilt has ancestors who were among the founders of Stratford.
She attended Bridgeport High School and New Haven Normal School. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt make their home at 291 United Road, Trumbull, and they are the parents of two children: I. Esther L., who was born at Stratford on June 4, 1920. She took her degree of Bachelor of Arts from Boston University, and her degree of Master of Arts at Yale University. The wife of Thomas F. Kieckhefer of Stratford, she now lives in Trumbull. Mr. Kieckhefer is with The Greist Manufacturing Company. They have two children: i. Kurt D., born February 7, 1943. ii. David L., born July 1, 1948. 2. Clarissa B., born on December 29, 1924, at Stratford. She gradu- ated from Mount Holyoke College, and was formerly with the Office of Scientific Research and Development. She is a member of Sigma Psi, honorary scholastic fraternity. She is now married to Walter B. Dundom, Jr., who is with the Jay Cee Chemical Company of North- ford. They make their home at Killingworth, and have two children: Martha, born July 8, 1951, and Priscilla, born, December 19, 1952. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt D. Vanderbilt reside on Unity Road, Trumbull.
CHARLES PIERSON RORABACK
Since the beginning of his professional career, Charles Pierson Roraback has practiced law in partnership with his brother, James W. Roraback under the firm name Roraback and Roraback, since 1927, at Torrington, and has his offices at 24 Mason Street. He has served in clerical capacities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Connecticut State Legislature, and serves on the boards
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of two banks and two utility companies, Hartford Electric Light Company and the Torrington Water Comapny.
Mr. Roraback is a native of Torrington, and was born on July 20, 1901, son of Willard Andrew and Emma Elizabeth (Pierson) Roraback. His father too was an attorney, served as town clerk of Torrington, and was judge of probate of the District of Torrington for thirty years prior to his death in 1928. Charles Pierson Roraback attended local public schools and graduated from Torrington High School in 1917. He then entered Yale University, and while a student there, 1917-1918, served in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Taking his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1921, he went on to Yale Law School, where in 1923 he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws.
Admitted to the bar at that time, Mr. Roraback has since prac- ticed at Torrington. He served as assistant clerk in the Connecticut State House of Representatives, and as assistant clerk in the State Senate. He serves on the board of directors of the Brooks Bank and Trust Company, and as a trustee of The Torrington Savings Bank, both in his home city.
Mr. Roraback is a trustee of the Torrington Library and president of the Hillside Cemetery Association. He is also a trustee of the Wol- cottville School Society. As a lawyer he is a member of the follow- ing bar associations: American Bar Association, State Bar Associa- tion, Litchfield County Bar Association and Torrington Bar Associa- tion. He is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, whose Calhoun Chapter he joined at Yale Law School. His nonprofessional memberships include the Torrington Club, Torrington Country Club, and Seaview Golf Club of Absecon, New Jersey. He is a communicant of the Congrega- gational Church.
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