HENRY THAYER

1937 - 2017

THAYER, Henry Henry, age 79, died peacefully on March 26, 2017 at Norwood Hospital. Henry was born on April 15, 1937 in Boston to Edward C. Thayer and Margaret B. Thayer. Henry leaves his loving wife Ellen, his son Henry, Jr. and daughter-in-law Naoko of Wethersfield, CT, his son Joshua and daughter-in-law Eunha of Brookline, MA, his daughters Alison of Rehoboth, MA and Ashley of Norfolk, MA, his grandchildren Kendrick, Joshua, Justin, Zoe, Emily, Aiden and Gabriel, his sister Margaret T. Hollingsworth of Kennebunkport, ME, and his nephew Nathaniel and nieces Chandler and Katherine. Henry was predeceased by his brother Edward C. Thayer, Jr. Among his many talents and activities, Henry was an enormous railroad enthusiast, accomplished photographer, voracious reader and historian. His marvelous and unique sense of humor, a love for slapstick and absurdist humor, and a tendency towards mischief, were quite infectious and made him a delight to be around. Henry also possessed a profound love for animals and nature. He was deeply devoted to the care of his loved ones and those in need. A graduate of Harvard College (A.B., 1958) and Harvard Law School (J.D., 1963), Henry spent his entire legal career at Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster in Boston, having joined the firm in 1964, the year of his admission to the bar. For 52 years he advised clients with respect to real estate titles as extensive as a city block or a 3600 acre tract or as local as the disputed use of a driveway. Henry was the driving force behind updating and bringing back into use the seminal book on Massachusetts title and conveyancing practice, editing the eighth and ninth editions of Crocker's Notes on Common Forms, published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. His passion for railroad history and love of rail travel evolved into a particular expertise in the law of railroad titles, a subject on which he wrote and lectured extensively. He was widely recognized as the "Dean of Titles" who contributed immeasurably to the field of Massachusetts real estate law and to the training and professional development of the bar; and he was instrumental in leading and shaping the Massachusetts community of real estate lawyers. Henry served as president of the Massachusetts Conveyancers Association (now The Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts) in 1988; and he received the group's highest honor, the Richard B. Johnson Award, in 1995. Henry was also a past president of The Abstract Club. In addition, Henry served for many years as chair of the joint amicus committee of both groups. In addition to REBA and The Abstract Club, Henry was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association. He was elected as a fellow in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers in 1984. Henry's generosity towards fellow members of the bar and to clients of all kinds, most notably those of limited means, was legendary. For many years Henry participated in the Boston Bar Association's Volunteer Lawyers Project, an organization which provides legal representation in civil matters to indigent Boston individuals and families. Henry also contributed innumerable hours of pro bono service to the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, serving as eminent domain counsel in connection with the return to life of the Dudley Triangle neighborhood in Roxbury and Dorchester. Among his many philanthropic and charitable endeavors, Henry perhaps valued most his work with The Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, where he served as chancellor from September 2005 through January 2013 and was a member of the Cathedral's Leadership Development Institute. In addition, Henry offered his much needed love and support to St. Paul's Church in Brockton, MA. In recognition of time that he donated to the above causes and to so many others, Henry received the Boston Bar Association's Pro Bono Award in 1991 and the Massachusetts Bar Association's Pro Bono Award in 1998. Henry served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 33 years, enlisting as a Private in 1955, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1958 and retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1988. A member of the Field Artillery branch, Henry also participated in Army Intelligence and the Foreign Liaison Service and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1988. During his active duty tour, he served in Korea from 1959 to 1960 following his training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Thereafter his reserve service included assignments to the Pentagon, Newport News and Berlin among other places. He declined an invitation to enroll in the Army War College prior to his retirement to focus on his law practice. A service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 79 Denton Road in Wellesley at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers a contribution to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (MSPCA) would be most appreciated. MSPCA, ATTN: Donations, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130. For additional information, tributes and guestbook please visit: Duckett-Waterman.com Duckett - J. S. Waterman & Sons Home of Memorial Tribute Sudbury, MA (978) 443-5777