JOHN SPURDLE

1937 - 2023

SPURDLE--John W., Jr. John W. Spurdle, Jr. 85, an avid angler, sailor, singer, Morgan car enthusiast, opera lover, charitable fundraiser, lover of magic tricks, and Babar stories, died peacefully on April 24, 2023, surrounded by family. A devoted and beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, John was born in 1937 in Orange, NJ the eldest son of Margaret (Lefferts) and John W. Spurdle. He graduated from Deerfield Academy, Wesleyan University and Harvard Business School. He joined Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, where he remained for 30 years. In 1968, he was transferred to London, where he and his wife, Cyndy, raised two daughters and developed a life-long love of England. His career incorporated travels around the globe, inspiring countless tales of daring-do and daring-don't that entertained family and friends for decades. He was an avid reader of everything from detective novels to Pepys and Dickens. He had a special affection for the London Library, which he served for many years as Chairman of the International Friends. John had many nicknames: Baba to his grandchildren, Speedy to his JP Morgan colleagues, Spurts to his Eclectic Brothers at Wesleyan, and Mr. S to his many friends and helpers. A lover of celebrations, he was a master of large-scale productions with fireworks, cannons and singing. He especially loved Christmas, when he would lead his family in singing his favorite carols (with full descants and harmonies) and provide feasts of oysters, caviar, champagne and Christmas Crackers. His friends came from every chapter of his life, from his distinguished banking career to his passionate involvement with numerous charities, to his fellow anglers at Clear Lake and on streams, rivers and oceans around the world. He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia, his daughters, Sarah (David Stack) and Megan (Giles Peel) and his grandchildren, Hadley, Isabel, Will, Nicholas and Maud, sister Shannon Clark, sister-in-law Diane Spurdle, nieces and nephews. A memorial service is planned for June 1st at 10:30 am at Saint Thomas Church, NYC.