Constance Sylvester

1934 - 2025

Constance LeMoyne "Lee" Sylvester (nee Dodge), longtime resident of Guilford, previously of Wallingford, passed away at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. She was the beloved wife of the late Benjamin F. Sylvester, Jr. Mrs. Sylvester was born in Douglas, Nebraska, just outside Omaha, on April 26, 1934, daughter of the late Nathan F. Phillips and Constance LeMoyne (Wentworth) Dodge. She was the loving mother of Benjamin Sylvester of Fairfield and Nina Healy (Timothy) of Rockfall and devoted grandmother to six grandchildren, Ben Sylvester IV, Tyler Sylvester, Toby Sylvester, Norah Healy, Finn Healy, and Aidan Healy.

She is also survived by her brother, Nathan Phillips "Sandy" Dodge, III (Kathleen) and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Sylvester was a 1952 graduate of Concord Academy, New Hampshire and Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1956, where she earned a degree in History. Lee taught at The Kent School, Denver, Colorado, before she wed Ben in August of 1961. She joined him in Wallingford as he began a legendary career at the Choate School, later Choate Rosemary Hall.

During the Kennedy Presidency, increased interest in the school necessitated documentation of its history, thus beginning Lee's nearly 40 year career as the school Archivist. She collected official documents, correspondence, publications, artifacts, articles, photos, scrapbooks, oral histories, maps, fine art, and furnishings, organizing them into a searchable system, which earned her the Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Additionally, she is cited for her contributions in obtaining eligibility for Rosemary Hall's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places with the National Park Service. She also served on the Wallingford Historical Society.

After retirement, she enjoyed gardening, volunteering for Guilford's A Better Chance, spending time with her grandchildren at the lake, reading and painting with watercolors.

A private graveside service will take place in North Guilford Cemetery. There will be a memorial service for Ben and Lee this spring, details to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Choate Rosemary Hall in honor of Lee Sylvester, 333 Christian St., Wallingford, CT 06492 or www.choate.edu/giving.