Lawrence Putnam Belden Summered in Chilmark

Long a summer resident in Chilmark, Lawrence Putnam Belden died on Christmas night. On Jan. 1 he would have been 92 years old. A pilot, he flew all during World War II. But after the war he rejected flying and became interested in publishing.

His father Charles F. D. Belden had been the head of the Boston Public Library. He worked at Harvard University Press, where he met his wife, May. She lived in New York and worked at the advertising agency that handled the Harvard account. She came up to Harvard frequently. After Harvard University Press, Lawrence worked at various book manufacturers until his retirement.

His family (four generations) had long spent summers in Chilmark, in the big old house on Fulling Mill Brook that his grandfather had bought. His grandfather was the youngest of a large family of Blackwells, some of whom had started coming to Chilmark in the 1860s, and many of whose descendants still have homes on the Vineyard.

Lawrence and his family continued coming to the Vineyard for many years. Lawrence and May spent the rest of their time in their long time house in Newton Centre. Recently they had moved up to Haverhill to live with their daughter Karen.

Lawrence's mother was the niece of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first accredited woman doctor, also of Lucy Stone (wife of Henry B. Blackwell), and of Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first ordained minister in the United States.

Lawrence and his wife also enjoyed a long association with the Old Cambridge Shakespeare Association, where they spent many wonderful evenings reading Shakespeare and being with good friends. Lawrence had been a member since young adulthood (along with his mother), making him the longest continuous member of the club.

Lawrence was a long time member of the Boy Scouts, where he achieved the Silver Beaver Award, and served on the executive board of the Norumbega/ Knox Trail Council with distinction. He was very active in mentoring Eagle Scouts, the camping project at Nobscot Scout Reservation. He was on the advancement committee, and served with troop 205 at the Sacred Heart Church in Newton Centre for years. Dennis Prefontaine, scout executive, worked closely with Lawrence and said that he was always there putting his heart and soul into everything he did through thick and thin! The city of Newton bestowed upon him the distinguished citizen of the year award for his community minded services.

Lawrence Belden is survived by his wife May, daughters Lisa and Karen, son Charles, and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held this summer on the Vineyard, and interment will be in the Abel's Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a donation may be sent to a charity of ones choice.