Frederick Treat STRONG

STRONG, Frederick Treat Mr. Frederick Treat Strong, 99, of Old Middleroad Turnpike, Woodbury, CT, died Tuesday (July 6, 2010) at Waterbury Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the widower of Sylvia Hotchkiss Strong, to whom he was married for 62 years and who passed away in 1999. Mr. Strong was born May 18, 1911 in Woodbury, a son of the late Frederick and Julia (Peck) Strong. He grew up on Pleasant Street and moved next door upon his marriage in 1937, to the family home that has been in the Strong family since 1815. Fred graduated from Woodbury High School in 1928, Cushing Academy in 1929, and Yale, where he graduated in 1933 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Fred retired in 1976 after a 43 year career with American Brass, Metal Hose Division. This was his 1st and only job since graduating from Yale. His interests included family, genealogy, Woodbury, chess, and bridge. Mr. Strong was an honorary Chairman of the 350th anniversary of the signing of the 1st Indian deed in 1659, and descended from 12 of the original 17 who bought the land that year. He was the first and only Historian of the town of Woodbury from 1988 to the present day. He was a member of the Woodbury Cemetery Association since 1948 and also served as its Chairman from 1958 - 2009. He was a member of the Woodbury Board of Education from 1950 - 1958 and served as its president from 1951 - 1958. In 1950 Mr. Strong became a charter member of the Old Woodbury Historical Society and also had served as its past President and longtime member of the Board of Directors. He was active in two major restoration projects, the Hurd House and the District 2 School House. He was also a member of the Orenaug Park Commission and its Chairman from 1958 - 1974 and a member of the Parks and Rec. Commission from 1974 - 1981. He was head of Little League in 1957 and active in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts in the late 1950's. Mr. Strong was on the General Committee and several others for the Tercentenary celebration in 1959 and an honorary Chairman for one year of the Woodbury Scholarship Fund. He was a member of North Congregational Church since 1924 and served in various capacities, including Deacon and Chairman of the Standing Committee, and he has been the current Church Historian for more than 20 years. He was also a former member and Chairman of the Woodbury Republican Town Committee and a Presidential delegate during the Eisenhower election years. Mr. Strong was a Co-author of three books: "Woodbury Schools 1674 - 1955"; "Homes of Old Woodbury" written in conjunction with the Tercentenary of Woodbury in 1959; and "150 Years in an Old New England Parish," a historical review of the North Congregational Church 1816 to 1966. He was a member and Past Governor of the Society of Mayflower Descendants in Connecticut, member and past President of the Oliver Wolcott Sr. Branch of the Sons of the American Revolution, member and past President of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, member and past President of the Hotchkiss Family Association, member and past President of the University Club of Waterbury, member of the Litchfield County University Club, member of the New England Historical Genealogy Society, member of the Society of the Cincinnati, member of the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor and a member of the Strong Family Association. On June 16, 2010 Mr. Strong was honored for his lifetime of service to Woodbury with the James J. Clark Community Service Award at a dinner hosted by the Woodbury Business Association. Charles Bartlett, last year's honoree, stated¸ "Every once in a while a person has a name that fits him perfectly. That is the case with Frederick Treat Strong—a man who exemplifies the meaning of the word 'strong' in both stature and contributions to the town." Fred is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, David A. and Mary Jane Strong of Watertown, CT; three grandchildren, David L. Strong of Arlington, VA, Julia H. Strong and her partner, Ann Odoy, of Bethany, CT, and Jennifer Strong Ebbert and her husband Frank of Arlington, VA; and two great grandchildren, Leo and Sylvia Ebbert, both of Arlington, VA. He also leaves a number of nieces and nephews: Frank Strong of Fairport, NY; Nancy Jefferson of Glastonbury, CT; Ellen Parker of Middlebury, CT; Robin Fenn of Middlebury, CT; Berkeley Hotchkiss of Saratoga, WY; Ann Johnson of Carbondale, CO; Judith Hotchkiss of Deer Isle, ME; Sue DeSimone of Woodbury CT; and Todd Hotchkiss of Birmingham, AL, as well as numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. Fred was predeceased by his loving wife Sylvia and his brother Frank. Funeral services will be held on Sunday (July 11, 2010) at 3 p.m. at the North Congregational Church, Woodbury. Burial will be private at a later date at the family plot in Old North Cemetery, Woodbury. Friends may call at the Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 2 School St., on Saturday (July 10, 2010) from 4-8 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the North Congregational Church, PO Box 473, Woodbury 06798, or the Old Woodbury Historical Society, PO Box 363, Woodbury 06798.