Obituary of Armstrong Sperry's father, from The New Haven Register, Aug. 12, 1935
Sereno C. Sperry, 69, of Gilnock Drive, president of the Pond Lily company in
Whalley avenue, passed away suddenly Saturday evening in the home of J. Howard Marlin,
Pine Orchard. Mr. Sperry, philosopher and rugged New England industrialist, had been
playing cards in the Marlin home and shortly after arising from the table suffered
a heart attack.
Surviving Mr. Sperry are his widow, Mrs. Nettie Alling Sperry; a sister, Miss Mary
E. Sperry; three sons, Sereno C. Sperry, Jr. and Paul A. Sperry of this city, and
Armstrong Sperry of Silver Mine, Norwalk; and two granddaughters, Misses Margaret
Ann and Susan Sperry.
Native of New Haven
Born in New Haven, Sept. 23, 1865, he was the son of Wallace W. and Rhodella Armstrong
Sperry. He attended New Haven public schools and at an easily age entered the employ
of the William Wells company with whom he was associated for 22 years. During that
time he traveled considerably about the country and was well-known among leading
industrialists. He then joined the United States Finishing company of New York city,
being connected with that firm as purchasing agent for nine years.
Mr. Sperry, upon leaving the finishing company became an official in the Pond Lily
company and in 1928 was elected president. Since that time he has been completely
in control of the firm and during the poor economic conditions of the past few years
gas kept his business active. For the past few weeks, he has been placing in operation
a plan to increase the production of the plant and to branch into other types of
products.
Two sons, Sereno C. Jr., and Paul A. Sperry are members of the firm, the former being
treasurer, and the latter secretary. The third son, Armstrong, is recognized as an
artist and writer, his works dealing mainly with sea lore.
An Ardent Hunter
Mr. Sperry, according to Frank J. Mitchell Jr., a close friend, was very philosophical.
He was keenly interested in fishing and an ardent hunter of big game in the Maine
and Canadian woods. His tastes were simple. He was a firm believer in Americanism,
was a builder and worker, had no political aspiration or affiliations, bore a constant
loyalty for his friends and fellow workers and was a philanthropist in a quiet way.
His travels carried him to distant points throughout the world. During the World
war, he served in Company D of the Home Guard, while his three sons served in the
United States Navy. Since the first automobile was introduced to the present day,
Mr. Sperry never operated one himself.
Great interest in New Haven's commercial and industrial life was evidenced by Mr.
Sperry who was an active member of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce. Until the Merchants
Bank merged with the First National Bank & Trust Co. he was a director of the
former institution.
Was Keen Clubman
Mr. Sperry was a member of the following organizations: Quinnipiack club, Edgewood
club, New Haven Country club, New Haven Automobile club, Merchants club of New York
City and the old New Haven Bicycle club. He was intensely interested in the activities
of the Camp Fire Club of America, of which he was an active member. He was a member
of the Westville Congregational church.
Rev. J. Edward Newton, pastor of the Westville church, will conduct funeral services
for Mr. Sperry in his late home, 105 Gilnock Drive, tomorrow afternoon at 2. Interment
will be in Oak Grove cemetery, West Haven, with Beecher, Bennett & Lincoln in
charge.
Active bearer will be Allen E. Baldwin, Joseph S. Dey, Harold R. Champion of Milford,
John F. Welch, all employees in the Pond Lily plant. Frank J. Mitchell, Jr., and
Burton R. Dudley. Honorary bearers will be J. Howard Marlin of Pine Orchard, Frank
G. Hall of New York, Lewis H. English of this city, Jacques Wolf of New York, Franklin
S. Jerome of Orange, Charles W. Ross, William D. Fitch, Frederick D. Grave and Herbert
L. Hayden, all of this city.