Charles Stuart Ingersoll

1931 - 2017

Charles Stuart Ingersoll, of Essex, CT, passed away peacefully with family and friends around him on March 15th. Born in Brooklyn Heights, NY on October 26, 1931 Stu lived a full and enriching life. He attended Phillips Andover Academy and Yale University, graduating in 1953. He served in the army before he began his first career at Bankers Trust Company in New York City. Stu decided to follow his passion and love of the water by leaving the banking world in 1960, taking his lovely bride Jane Fair, and buying the Essex Boat Works in CT. He spent 37 years running the Boat Works. During this time he was also involved with the Connecticut Maritime Trades and the American Boat Builders and Repairs Associations. He also loved his town and was chairman of the Essex Zoning Board of Appeals as well as an active member of the Essex Rotary Club, the Essex, Corinthian, Pettipaug and the New York Yacht Clubs. Stu's greatest passions were Dixieland jazz music, boating, and gardening. In his youth he raced in many regattas, his favorite being the Newport to Bermuda Race. Throughout his life he combine his love of boating and music by cruising all over the East coast with his family and friends on his beloved oyster boat Flora. He generously invited many to come aboard and join in on the singing or playing of instruments, including a piano that was bolted on its deck. When not playing music on his boat, he was a member of the Corinthian Jazz Band, the Old Lyme Town Band, the Essex Banjo Rally, the Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival, and the Essex Winter Series. Stu is survived by his three children and daughter in law, Charlie and Honor Ingersoll of Chevy Chase, MD, Pam Ingersoll of Lyme, CT, and John Ingersoll of Essex, CT. Also surviving are four grandchildren, India, Mary Wilder, Owen, and Kyle. A memorial service will be held on May 5th at 1 pm at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Essex, CT. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Lower Connecticut Nurses Association in Centerbrook or the Essex Winter Series would be most appreciated.