Gilbert Lea

Gilbert Lea
     VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Gilbert Lea died peacefully on May 4, 2008, in Vero Beach, Fla.
     He was born Dec. 16, 1912, in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., and grew up in the family home in Wynnewood, Pa. Mr. Lea attended the Montgomery School and then St. Paul School, Concord, N.H., where he graduated in 1932. At St. Paul's he received the Gordon Medal awarded to the best all around athlete. After graduation he attended Princeton University, Class of 1936, where he started on the football team for four years as an end when players were expected to play both offence and defense.
     His early working years were interrupted by military service during the Second World War. He served in the Army as an artillery instructor for two years at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, and one year in California and Texas helping to build the 13th Armored Division. In the last year of the war he was assigned to the European Theatre as a battalion commander of an armored artillery unit attached to the 3rd Army commanded by General Patton. He ended the war in Bavaria as a Lt. Colonel and was awarded several battle stars, a bronze star and an air medal for commanding the assault of a combat unit from the cub airplane.
     Mr. Lea lived in Princeton, N.J. from 1936 until 1961. In 1938 he married Nancy Nalle of Charlotte, N.C. He was active in Princeton alumni affairs: Chairman of Annual Giving 1961-1962, Chairman of the Athletic Committee, President of Alumni Associations in both Maine and Vero Beach, Fla., and on the Alumni Council for almost 20 years. He served on the Executive Committees of the National Football Foundation and the Visiting Nurses Association.
     Most of Mr. Lea's professional life was spent in New York, first for Time Magazine from 1936-1948, for Business Week for four years as Executive V.P. in charge of Eastern Market; then moving to McGraw Hill as the eastern manager in the advertising division for Business Week; then as advertising director of McCall's Magazine. He left McGraw Hill in 1957 to work for 12 years at Ogilvy & Mather as V.P. in charge of new business including ultimately serving as the agency's account executive for Sears Roebuck. He was instrumental in getting public approval for the construction of Lincoln Center.
     In 1962 Mr. Lea married Phyllis Thaxter in New York, and not long thereafter, they moved to Cumberland Foreside. A year later they built new house of their own design on Spruce Lane. They also spent many summers at Phyllis's cottage on Cushing's Island. At the age of 50, Mr. Lea joined Casco Bank as its first marketing executive under Halsey Smith. In 1967 he purchased the Tower Publishing Company, which he operated until 1982. For 16 years Mr. and Mrs. Lea maintained a winter home in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, moving to Vero Beach, Fla., in the early 1980s. During those years their Maine residence was in a condominium unit at Applegate.
     Mr. Lea was active in Maine community affairs as well. He was a parishioner at St. Mary's Church in Falmouth and was a longtime member of the Portland Country Club. He was also head of the American Cancer Society and was a Trustee of the Baxter School for the Deaf. His avocations included painting, tennis, sailing and golf. He will be remembered by many for his inventiveness, sense of humor and charm.
     He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Phyllis Thaxter Lea; a daughter, Ann Lea Fries of Savannah, Ga., a son, Thomas Lea of Cumberland Foreside, a stepdaughter, Skye Aubrey of Orlando, Fla., and a stepson, James Aubrey, as well as his first wife, Nancy Genung of Princeton, N.J. Mr. Lea was predeceased by his son, Gilbert Lea Jr.
     A memorial service will take place in Maine at a date yet to be determined.
    Memorial contributions
    may be made to:
    The VNA/Hospice Foundation
    1110 35th Lane
     Vero Beach, Florida 32960