Frederic Webster

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Frederic Webster will be held at the North Universalist Chapel Society, 7 Church Street, Woodstock, VT on Saturday, October 27th at 11:00 AM. The public is invited. Mr. Webster, 95, died at his home in South Pomfret after a long period of declining health. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, April 3, 1912, Mr. Webster graduated from Milton Academy in Milton, Mass. in 1931. He graduated from Harvard College in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with pre-medical courses. He attended Harvard Medical School for two years, then spent two years at the Harvard University Fatigue Laboratory. In 1940 he joined the U.S. Navel reserve as a lieutenant J.G. In the Navy he worked as a research Officer, testing and evaluating the selection and training processes for Navy pilots, at several naval air stations on the east and west coasts. He was discharged in 1945 as a Lieutenant Commander. He studied for a doctorate at Harvard Graduate School from 1945 to 1951, and that year took a position at the MIT Digital Computer Laboratory (now called Lincoln Laboratory, where his grandson presently works). In 1954 he left Lincoln Laboratory and began independent research on echo-location by bats. He continued his research and writing in South Pomfret, where he moved around 1970. He became active in the Unitarian Universalist Church in Woodstock and gave a number of sermons there over the years. He also sang in the church choir. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed skiing, hiking, and gymnastics (tumbling). He also competed in the seniors division in Local cross-country races. He is survived by his four children, Frederic Gus Webster of Seattle, Washington, Katherine Kate Webster of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, J. Gordon Webster of Golden, Colorado, Jeffery S. Webster of Burlington, Vermont, 2 grandchildren, Seth E. Webster of Burlington, Massachusetts, Sarah E. Webster of Baltimore, Maryland, and his previous wife, Pricilla Little Webster of Needham, Massachusetts. He is pre deceased by his 2nd wife Barbara "Susie" Voss and a sister Edith Webster Gregg.