Graham Wallace, Sr.
April 7, 1916 — June 3, 2012
Graham F. Wallace, Sr.
Graham Fullerton Wallace, Sr., a Stamford resident for 63 years, died Sunday, June 3, at home. He was 96. Born in New York City, he was the only child of the late John and Helen F. Wallace. Mr. Wallace attended the Barnard School for Boys in Riverdale, NY, graduated from Greenwich High School, and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the Pratt Institute in 1939.
Mr. Wallace met his wife, Evelyn Conner, at the Perkin-Elmer Corporation where he was employed for 36 years designing and managing several optical instrument programs for the U2 spy plane, the NASA-Mercury space program, and various optical systems for submarines, military weapons, telescopes and spy satellites.
Mr. Wallace was active in civic and church activities for many years. He served as Committee Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 47 and was presented the Pelican Award for his service and contribution to Scouting.
Mr. Wallace was a founding member and long time Treasurer of the Emmaus Community, a non-territorial Catholic parish established in 1972 now part of St. Maurice Catholic Church. He was an active supporter of the St. Charles Health Clinic, established by former Stamford Catholic High School principal Sr. Beth Davies to serve the coal mining region of Appalachia, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the New Covenant House of Hospitality.
Mr. Wallace was an avid sailor throughout his long life, spending boyhood summers sailing the waters around Bustin’s Island, ME. After learning the intricacies of wooden boatbuilding, he built a rowboat in high school and later worked at Al Scofield’s boatyard to earn money for college. He lovingly owned several sailboats during his life and enjoyed taking friends out for leisurely or competitive sails until the age of 88. He and his wife, Evelyn, were past members of the Stamford Yacht Club and with their children participated in numerous sailboat races and cruises on Long Island Sound, even winning some trophies along the way.
As an accomplished woodworker, Mr. Wallace also built cabinetry and furniture, and frequently helped friends and family with challenging household repairs. He designed and completed work on two multi-room additions to his own home, fostering many of these building skills in his sons and daughters.
He is survived by his loving children; three sons, Robert C. Wallace and his wife Janet of Bolingbrook, IL, John G. Wallace and his wife Betty of Atlanta, GA, Graham F. Wallace, Jr. and his wife Lourie of Franklin, MA, and two daughters, Blair W. Mahan and her husband Kieran of Medford, NJ, and Elizabeth C. Wallace of Fairfield, CT, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Evelyn, in 2003 and an infant son, Peter C. Wallace, in 1952.
A Funeral Mass in celebration of his life will be offered on Saturday, June 9 at 1 pm at St. Maurice Catholic Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford. There will be no calling hours and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, if you so desire, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Habitat For Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, 1542 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610 or to the charity of your choice.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, is handling arrangements.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com
Graham Fullerton Wallace, Sr., a Stamford resident for 63 years, died Sunday, June 3, at home. He was 96. Born in New York City, he was the only child of the late John and Helen F. Wallace. Mr. Wallace attended the Barnard School for Boys in Riverdale, NY, graduated from Greenwich High School, and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the Pratt Institute in 1939.
Mr. Wallace met his wife, Evelyn Conner, at the Perkin-Elmer Corporation where he was employed for 36 years designing and managing several optical instrument programs for the U2 spy plane, the NASA-Mercury space program, and various optical systems for submarines, military weapons, telescopes and spy satellites.
Mr. Wallace was active in civic and church activities for many years. He served as Committee Chairman of Boy Scout Troop 47 and was presented the Pelican Award for his service and contribution to Scouting.
Mr. Wallace was a founding member and long time Treasurer of the Emmaus Community, a non-territorial Catholic parish established in 1972 now part of St. Maurice Catholic Church. He was an active supporter of the St. Charles Health Clinic, established by former Stamford Catholic High School principal Sr. Beth Davies to serve the coal mining region of Appalachia, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the New Covenant House of Hospitality.
Mr. Wallace was an avid sailor throughout his long life, spending boyhood summers sailing the waters around Bustin’s Island, ME. After learning the intricacies of wooden boatbuilding, he built a rowboat in high school and later worked at Al Scofield’s boatyard to earn money for college. He lovingly owned several sailboats during his life and enjoyed taking friends out for leisurely or competitive sails until the age of 88. He and his wife, Evelyn, were past members of the Stamford Yacht Club and with their children participated in numerous sailboat races and cruises on Long Island Sound, even winning some trophies along the way.
As an accomplished woodworker, Mr. Wallace also built cabinetry and furniture, and frequently helped friends and family with challenging household repairs. He designed and completed work on two multi-room additions to his own home, fostering many of these building skills in his sons and daughters.
He is survived by his loving children; three sons, Robert C. Wallace and his wife Janet of Bolingbrook, IL, John G. Wallace and his wife Betty of Atlanta, GA, Graham F. Wallace, Jr. and his wife Lourie of Franklin, MA, and two daughters, Blair W. Mahan and her husband Kieran of Medford, NJ, and Elizabeth C. Wallace of Fairfield, CT, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Evelyn, in 2003 and an infant son, Peter C. Wallace, in 1952.
A Funeral Mass in celebration of his life will be offered on Saturday, June 9 at 1 pm at St. Maurice Catholic Church, 358 Glenbrook Road, Stamford. There will be no calling hours and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, if you so desire, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Habitat For Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County, 1542 Barnum Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610 or to the charity of your choice.
The Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, is handling arrangements.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Graham Wallace, Sr., please visit our flower store.