Rowland Mitchell Obituary

Rowland Lippincott Mitchell, Jr., Ph.D. KINGSTON - Rowland Lippincott Mitchell, Jr, Ph.D., a resident of Kingston for nine years died Dec. 2, 2014 at Golden Hill Health Care Center. His was a life of sorrow and triumph. Born in Longmont Colo., in 1922 he was the son of Rowland and Violet Mitchell. He grew up in Pomona Calif. When he was 12 years old, and his sister was 13, she died suddenly form acute appendicitis. His mother, Violet died a year later. He rallied himself and persevered and was able to graduate near the top of his class. He was offered admission to Yale University on a full academic scholarship. His studies, at Yale, were interrupted by World War II. He served his country as a Private in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He taught navigation and radio operation, while stationed in South Dakota and Texas. He completed his undergraduate degree after the war. He stayed on at Yale to pursue graduate work and ultimately received his Ph.D. in American History. He went on to be an associate professor of American History, first at Yale, then at The University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and finally at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the early 1960’s, he left academia and accepted a position as staff-associate with the Social Science Research Council, in New York City. He stayed at the S.S.R.C. for more than 20 years. For the balance of his career, he worked with different not-for-profit foundations. Among other institutions, he was a consultant to the Bronx Zoo, the Cathedral of St. John The Divine and The New York Public Library. For five years, with his sister-in-law, Janet Mitchell, he published “The Mitchell Guides” a many-volume series that contained detailed information about different metropolitan- area foundations. He met his wife Sarah Matteson, M.D. when he was teaching at M.I.T. After joining the S.S.R.C., they moved to N.Y. and settled in Scarsdale. He was a member of the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Friends of The Scarsdale Library. He was on the board of the Scarsdale Adult School and was its president, for a year. He was later on The Board of the Directors of Westchester-Rockland BOCES for nine years; serving as president for the last three. He also served on the Board of Visitors of Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center. He was an opera buff and was a member of the “New York Metropolitan Opera Guild”. He loved to cook, in high style. He liked to say he had memorized Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. He experienced a devastating stroke in 1996. Afterwards, he continued to go to the opera and enjoy his evening martini, but he was able to participate in only a few of the many other activities that he use to enjoy. He was completely dependent on others for his care. Until she died, in 2005, he continued to live in Scarsdale, with Sarah. They were married for forty eight years. After her death, he moved to Kingston to live with his son and daughter-in-law. He continued to live with them until six weeks ago, when he experienced another stroke. His family was grateful for the many wonderful people who helped to take care of him the last nine years.
He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Raymond and his sisters Julia and Margery. He is survived by his son, John B. Mitchell, M.D., his daughter-in-law Kim Scott, and their four children Amanda and Andrea Scott and Abigail and Alexandra Mitchell, also his sister-in-law, Mary Ann Folter, three nephews and six nieces.
Cremation and memorial arrangements are under the guidance of the Joseph V. Leahy Funeral Home Inc., 27 Smith Avenue, Kingston N.Y. www.jvleahyfh.com. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Published by Daily Freeman from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4, 2014.
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Scott and I will never forget Rowland and Sally Our best wishes to. John and Kim. May you have a great Thanksgiving

Roger McClanahan

Friend

November 27, 2019

Roger McClanahan

Friend

November 27, 2019

Rowland was almost like a father to me. I spent every Christmas, summers at the Cape and many trips to the opera with Rowland and Sally and his son John. My life was changed by his friendship as was my spouse Scott Holderer.

Roger McClanahan

December 15, 2014

He sounded like a wonderful man. Our prayers are with you at this time
April

December 5, 2014

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