Charles Stannard

Clinton - Charles Stannard of Clinton, and Bradenton, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, after a lengthy illness. He was predeceased by his parents, Gilbert and Ann Stannard; his first wife Carol Dater Stannard; brother Gilbert E. "Gib" Stannard; and sister Harriet L. (Stannard) Nowak. He is survived by his wife Linda Pratt Stannard of Clinton and Bradenton, Fla.; children, Julia Lee (Stannard) Merwin and Philip Charles Stannard (Gabrielle); siblings, Jeremy E. Stannard, Mary "Beth" (Stannard) Pitt and Jennifer Ann Stannard.

Charles' interests were diverse. He attended the Cathedral School of St. John the Divine as a chorister in Middle school, was a 1957 graduate of The Morgan School and a 1961 graduate of Kenyon College in Ohio. He retired after a 37-year career teaching in the East Lyme Middle School and then added almost another decade as a substitute. He was secretary of the East Lyme Teacher's Association, a lifetime member of Holy Advent Episcopal Church in Clinton serving as the church organist and choir director for many years and as Senior Warden, Junior Warden and treasurer. Charles was also the church organist for the Westbrook Congregational Church for a number of years, St. Ann's Episcopal Church, Old Lyme (summer) and a member of the American Guild of Organists. He was a board member of the Clinton Choral Club and sang for decades. An avid sailor, Charles began as a teenager in the Duck Island Yacht Club, sailed Long Island Sound, Florida's Gulf Coast and the BVI.

Stannard was active for many years as an officer, firefighter and EMT in the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department beginning as a junior fireman in his teens. He was an officer and on the boards of both the Clinton and Westbrook Land Conservation Trusts and a longtime member of the Clinton Historical Society.

Upon retirement, Charles became the church organist at St. George Episcopal Church in Bradenton and sang in the choir. He enjoyed competing in shuffleboard and was treasurer and president of the Golf Lakes Shuffleboard Club.

Memorial donations may be made to Holy Advent Church, Clinton, Ct. 06413. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Holy Advent Episcopal Church, 81 East Main Street, Clinton.