Wade Cloyd

Wade Cloyd, 89

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - Wade Cloyd, 89, of Hilton Head Island, SC., former American Optical Executive, went home to be with the Lord on August 26, 2014.

Wade Cloyd, a 22 year veteran with American Optical Corporation in Southbridge was responsible for Corporate Communications. During his career with AO, he resided in Sturbridge. He held the position of Director of Corporate Communications until he became Vice president of Corporate Communications for Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. in Trumbull, CT.

He was a graduate of Union College, in Schenectady, NY; New York University Graduate School of Business and the Worcester Polytechnic Institute School of Industrial Management. In World War II, Cloyd served in the US Navy, attaining the rank of Lt. jg.

Cloyd served as a Director of Cool-Ray Polaroid Sunglass Corporation, the Better Vision Institute, the Greater Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce, Harrington Memorial Hospital and the Tri-Community United Way. He was also a member of the Building Committee for the Tri-Community YMCA in Southbridge. A charter member of the Gateway Community Theater, he played a lead in the group's first production "Plaza Suite" by Neil Simon. Later, he played the Charles Laughton role in Agatha Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution." A golf enthusiast, he served on the executive committee of the American Optical Classic, a PGA Tour event formerly held at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton.

In Sturbridge, he successfully served as campaign manager for Selectmen Lloyd Pote and John Weaver. He coached Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams and was a co-founder of Cub Scout Pack 137. Originally with the Southbridge Rotary Club, Cloyd was a founding member of the Sturbridge Rotary Club and became its second president. In 1976, he was awarded Rotary's Paul Harris Fellowship by members. He was an active member of the Sturbridge Federated Church for 25 years and for many years served as floor manager of the annual auction on Sturbridge Common.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sigrid Cloyd of almost 29 years in 1979. He is survived by his wife Mary A. Cloyd and three sons: Wade W. Cloyd III (Dorothy) of Granbury, TX; Kris D. Cloyd (Veronica) of Boylston, MA; and Scott T. Cloyd (Rose) of Mt. Dora, FL; niece Sigrid Howell of Mashpee, MA and nephews Jon Thorsten of Lumberton, NC and Kris Thorsten of San Diego, CA. He also leaves four grandsons, Dr. Jeffrey Wade Cloyd, Andrew J. Cloyd, Matthew J. Cloyd and Benjamin Cloyd. He is also survived by a stepson, Richard Cooper, two stepdaughters, Lynne Cooper and Karen McDonough and ten step-grandchildren and ten step-great grandchildren all of Massachusetts.

A memorial service will be held in the Providence Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on September 20, 2014 where Cloyd had been an active resident since 1986.

Arrangements entrusted to The Island Funeral Home and Crematory.

theislandfuneralhome.com