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Benjamin Sylvester Obituary
February 15, 2024
Benjamin F. Sylvester Jr. of Guilford, a retired history teacher and coach, died Thursday, February 15, 2024 at age 99 at home. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, he was the son of Benjamin Sylvester and Ruth Mills Sylvester. A graduate of that city's Central High School, he was elected to the school's Hall of Fame. After Army service in World War II, he earned degrees from Harvard University and from St. Catherine's College, Oxford, England, where he was a championship rower and an annual prize is named after him. Mr. Sylvester taught and coached crew at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford for 40 years; the school's boathouse on Lake Quonnipaug in Guilford is named for him. In 1961, he married the former LeMoyne Dodge, who survives him. He also leaves two children, Benjamin Sylvester III and Nina Healy; and six grandchildren, Ben Sylvester IV, Tyler Sylvester, Toby Sylvester, Norah Healy, Finn Healy, and Aidan Healy.
A private graveside service with military honors will take place at North Guilford Cemetery, Guilford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Choate Rosemary Hall crew program in honor of Benjamin Sylvester Jr., 333 Christian St., Wallingford, CT 06492 or www.choate.edu/giving. Arrangements in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St., Guilford. To share a memory or leave condolences, please visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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3 Entries
Colleen greco
March 9, 2024
Always had a lot of laughs with Ben and his wife in the dinning room at the Guilford house he will be missed
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Nicholas Paine Wardle
February 26, 2024
I have a very distinct memory of my mother, Mary Wardle, telling me that her finest matchmaking accomplishment was having introduced Lee to Ben. I'd have to say it all went well. My condolences to Lee and her family from the Wardles. Obviously a life well lived!
M S
February 25, 2024
Thank you for your military service
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