Godfrey A. Rockefeller

Family-Placed Obituary

GODFREY A. ROCKEFELLER Godfrey A. Rockefeller, the former Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund (1972-78), died unexpectedly Friday evening, January 22 at the St. Andrew's Club in Delray Beach, FL. He was 85. A resident of Delray Beach since 1979, Mr. Rockefeller spent his summers since childhood in Prouts Neck, ME. He was a longtime member of the Gibson Island, MD community which honored him by flying its flag at half-mast following his passing. A graduate of Phillips Academy Andover and Yale College, Class of 1945W, Mr. Rockefeller served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II from 1943 - 1946 and during the Korean Conflict from 1952- 1954 where he rose to the rank of Major Aviator Pilot. For 25 years, he was active in the commercial helicopter industry. Mr. Rockefeller served as President and Chairman of the Helicopter Association of America and President of Acosta Groves in Mims, FL, a Rockefeller family citrus enterprise. Throughout his life, Mr. Rockefeller remained devoted to the protection of the natural environment. In addition to serving as Executive Director, he served as a Board member of the World Wildlife Fund from 1978 - 1985 and a Council member from 1984 - 1993. An active member of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation since 1968, he served as the Foundation's Chairman of the Board from 1981 - 1991 and thereafter as Chairman Emeritus. Like his father before him, Mr. Rockefeller served as the long-time President of the Prouts Neck Country Club in Maine. He is the former President of the Hillsboro Club in Pompano Beach, FL. Mr. Rockefeller was married for 53 years to Margaret Kuhn Rockefeller who died in 2009. Mr. Rockefeller is much admired for his stalwart care of his wife during her lengthy final illness. He is survived by his sister, Marion R. Stone of Greenwich, CT and his children, Judith S. Rockefeller of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Godfrey Anderson Rockefeller, Jr. and his wife, Regina S. Rockefeller of Lexington, MA, Caroline R. Spencer and her husband, David R. Spencer of Willow Creek, MT, Parker B. Rockefeller and his wife, Jeanette C. Rockefeller of Annapolis, MD and grandchildren, Victoria Rockefeller of Homer, AK, Lisa Rockefeller and her husband, Edward Sebelius of Boston, MA, Anne de la Gueronniere and Helen Armide of New York City, NY, Grace de la Gueronniere of Nashville, TN, Michael, Molly and Caitlin Spencer of Willow Creek, MT and Connor, Jake and Abigail Rockefeller of Annapolis, MD. Mr. Rockefeller is also survived by his former wife, Constance Hamilton Wallace of Boca Grande, FL and his brother-in-law and friend, Peter H. Blair of Denver, CO. Mr. Rockefeller's life will be celebrated at his home church of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, Florida on Saturday, January 30 at 2 PM. Friends and family are welcome. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Florida Haiti Project of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 188, South Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach, FL 33444 or the Living Classrooms Foundation, 802 South Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21231. A memorial is also planned in Prouts Neck, ME for the summer of 2010. To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries