Woodrow W. Sayre Was Adventurous Climber, Thinker

Woodrow W. Sayre Was Adventurous Climber, Thinker

Philosophy professor and mountain climber Woodrow Wilson Sayre died at his home in Vineyard Haven, on Sept. 16. He was 83.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College, Dr. Sayre served in the United States Air Force from 1942 to 1947 before earning his master's and doctorate degrees from Harvard University. He was then a professor of philosophy at Pomona College in California, at Tufts University in Medford, and at Springfield College in Springfield.

A maverick in mind, spirit, and heart, Dr. Sayre led a four-man, privately-financed expedition to Mount Everest in 1962. Only 12 attempts on the peak had been made to that point, all of them using bottled oxygen, which Sayre and his team did not use. Though accidents and bad weather stopped the team short of the summit, Sayre himself reached an altitude of 25,500 feet. His book, Four Against Everest, helped popularize climbing by describing its beauties and exhilarations, and dramatizing its unequalled opportunities for both solitude and companionship. Immortal friendships are formed, he wrote, "when you have walked the feather edge of danger with someone, when you have held his life at the end of a rope. The deepest friendships spring from sharing danger as well as safety, failure as well as success."

A beloved presence on Martha's Vineyard for many decades, Woodrow Sayre was a master of chess, Scrabble, sailing, crossword puzzles, and duplicate bridge. He served on the Tisbury finance committee, and was a stirring performer in many Island dramatic events.

He was the son of Francis B. Sayre, former commissioner to the Philippines, and of Jessie Wilson Sayre, daughter of President Woodrow Wilson. He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Sayre of Martha's Vineyard and Martha Sayre Caliri of Braintree; his granddaughter, Mollie Caliri; his stepchildren, Elizabeth Badaracco of Framingham and Jeffrey Sayre of Martha's Vineyard, and his brother, Francis B. Sayre, Jr., retired dean of the Episcopal National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Woodrow Sayre's life was one of intellectual, spiritual and physical adventure. "Mere security is a barren ideal," he wrote. "It is more exciting to discover new lands, and to think what may be just over the next ridge."

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven. The family has asked that memorial gifts in his name be given to Grace Church.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.

as a twelve-year-old seventh-grader in Oklahoma I read and idolized Sayre's "Four Against Everest" when it came out in 1964. That book, and a few others, along with fortuitous exposure to Colorado and New Mexico and older and charismatic climbers had a huge influence on my life and choices to always turn to climbing when other things in life turned unsuccessful or boring, or even when they didn't. The audacity of their Everest attempt, and total disregard for those "institutional" mountaineers (James Ramsey Ullman--court biographer of the American Mount Everest Expedition) who were indignant over Sayre et al's making their own attempt independent of the accepted funding mechanisms--this was the stuff to stir the heart of a squirrely junior-high kid who was always in trouble for doing things without permission. This philosophy professor taught me an important lesson: in boring middle-America where the mass of people were ruled by fear and convention, it was vital to escape boredom, go where one wanted, and do what one wanted. And if others said you couldn't, it was better to ask forgiveness (or evade detection) than ask permission.

I met Woody Sayre and his wife and daughters several time in 1954. I was a house guest (in Belmont, MA) of Caroline Hart Bergh, the daughter of four star Admiral Thomas Hart. Her sister Harriet Hart Sayre was married to Woody's brother, Francis B Sayre. I played scrabble with Woody but I remember him more for his logic problems. Each time I met him he had a new logic problem for me to solve. At the time I was a student at Harvard Business School and he was teaching at Tufts. Admiral Hart and his wife were also frequent visitors at the Berghs.

I just finished reading this book, and I couldn't agree more with your comment. I am a former mountaineering guide, studied under Willi Unsoeld and at 54 have been a fan of many armchair climbing narratives.... This is a simply written but great book. Even after 50 years the message that risk and adventure should precede safety and uniformity still ring true. RIP Mr. Sayre and may other adventurers follow in your path. JR

I've just read this book again after 45 years. Thank goodness my friend Bob Hogan gave it to me to read. It is still inspiring. It is the 'only book' that inspired me to find my own adventure under my own terms. All others reads have fallen short for the most part. Mr Sayre hit all the right notes to fill up ones life in the best way possible. Looking back 35 years, I escaped my own tedious boredom by going AWOL from USN and walked the Appalachian Trail. The need to fill up my soul with nature far outweighed any permission I could have hoped to get. It was not to be had. The minor brig time and remaining 4 years of duty in no way could change the strength I gained. I never would have gotten through my hitch without it. My adventures continue looking for remote solitude in wilderness for whatever brief moments I can find at this stage of my life. I paint a few more days and few more miles into my memory. Pictures are not enough to fill up my cup or to remedy the often boring humdrum I see around me at times. I have found my next fence to jump and permission to be ignored and the journey goes on. Peace to all seeking their own paths in life and avoid any convention you see. It will otherwise be boring ride. sometimes gilhooley MS

In 1953 I took "The Philosophy Of Religion" from Dr. Sayre. It was given on the 2nd floor of Crane Hall, a brick building, at Tufts U. It was a second semester class at 9:00 AM. On the first day the class had assembled, but no Dr. Sayre. I heard a scrambling outside the building, a hand reached up and opened a window. In came Dr. Sayre dressed only in thin slacks, dress shirt, open sport coat, and tie, a long yellow scarf wrapped once round his neck. This in freezing weather. He gave the lecture and then left by the same route. He did this the whole semester. I thought him a bit odd, but when I read about his Mt. Everest expedition I understood.

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John Records, Boulder CO

November 25, 2013 - 10:02am

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Woodrow W. Sayre Was Adventurous Climber, Thinker

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