DeWitt Livingston Loved His Summers on Island

With his family by his side, DeWitt Clinton Livingston died peacefully at home on May 16. He was born in Rutherford, N.J., on Jan. 18, 1913 to Alexander Clinton Livingston and the former Nan Brittain.

Moving to Buffalo in 1926, he was graduated from The Nichols School in 1931. He then went on to Princeton University and was graduated in the Class of 1935.

Drafted into the Army in 1942, DeWitt was commissioned second lieutenant following his graduation from the Signal Corps' Officers Candidate School at Fort Monmouth, N.J. Between October of 1942 and July of 1944, he served in the Signal Corps Aircraft Warning Regiment in Panama and the Galapagos Islands. Missions in Florida and Georgia followed until his discharge as a first lieutenant in February, 1946. During the war, in January of 1942, he married the former Barbara Reinhart of Andover and Chappaquiddick.

DeWitt began his life's career at The Bankers Trust Company in 1946 after a brief time in the shipping business. He retired in 1976 as a vice president.

DeWitt spent much of his life in Summit, N.J., where he was active in Princeton affairs. An avid Princetonian, he enjoyed working on the schools committee of the Princeton Club of Northwestern New Jersey and served as the committee's chairman for several years. While in Summit, DeWitt was an member of Calvary Episcopal Church, where he was a lay reader.

In 1978, DeWitt and Barbara moved to Columbus, Ohio, to be near their daughter, Lain Howarth, and her family, but continued to spend half the year at their home on Chappy.

First coming to East Chop with his parents in 1917, he spent summers there with his family until 1925. Between 1925 and 1941, the family summered in the Eastville area and Vineyard Haven. After DeWitt's marriage to Barbara in 1942, he spent every summer, following the war, on Chappaquiddick.

DeWitt had a life-long passion for the Vineyard. He loved every inch of the Island, instilling that love in his family, friends and anyone else willing to explore the woods, hills, beaches and other places known only to a few. It was of concern to him that the vistas from the roads on the Island were becoming increasingly overgrown by vegetation hindering the experience of those who come to the Vineyard to appreciate its unique beauty and scenic panoramas.

He served as vice president of the Chappaquiddick Island Association and a founding member, president, treasurer and director of the Caleb Beach Association.

He had an extraordinary knowledge of passenger ships and was keenly familiar with those that came through New York Harbor between 1925 and the 1960s. Being particularly fond of the overnight steamers from New York to New England, DeWitt made many voyages on them from 1925 to 1941 enroute to the Vineyard and other New England ports. He loved all the Island steamers, and particularly the 1929 Naushon. As much as he loved the Island passenger ships, however, he was not as enthusiastic about the ferries of today. His membership in the Steamship Historical Society, its publications as well as his own extensive library gave him many hours of enjoyment.

DeWitt was a member of Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, and once represented the summer residents as a member of the vestry under Jack Greely. He was a member of Saint Alban's Episcopal Church in Bexley, Ohio, where he was a lay reader.

Predeceased in death by his parents and three brothers, he is survived by his wife, Barbara Livingston; his daughter and son in law, Lain Livingston Howarth and Robert Howarth, and his two grandchildren, McClain Livingston Howarth and Robert Clinton Howarth, both of Washington, D.C.

A memorial service will be held on August 16 at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute to St. Andrew's or Sherriff's Meadow Foundation.