Edgar D. Gates

Edgar was born in Warren, Ohio on December 1, 1925, the son of Edgar Pier Gates and Dorothy Day Gates. He grew up in Elyria, Ohio, where he became an Eagle Scout. Edgar began a career as a musician and trombonist. In May 1943, the Navy selected him for the College V-12 Program and he attended Baldwin Wallace College, Miami University, and was a Midshipman at Asbury Park and Columbia. He played in many Navy and college dance bands, graduating from the Navy School of Music in 1945. He went to the South Pacific and was the first trombonist of of the U.S.S. Pennsylvania’s band. The ship was torpedoed by a Japanese plane August 12, 1945. He played in a show band in California and was discharged as MUS 3/C May 1946. Edgar was commissioned as an Ensign in the Medical Service Corps from 1949 - 1960. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and The Navy League. For several years he served as Chaplain of Greenwich Post 29 of the Legion. In addition to other bands and orchestras, he played with the Miami “Campus Owls” and the South Beach Volunteer Fire Dept. Band, Greenwich, CT.

He graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio in 1948 with an A.B. in psychology and sociology. M.A. Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, PhD Tulane and University of Maryland. Board Certified as a Psychologist in Maryland for 30 years. His first position after graduate school was Rice’s Bakery, Baltimore as Director of Personnel 1951-56. New Haven Board & Carton Co., Exec. Vice Pres. 1957-61. Pres. Fish Pier Box Co. 1960. General Foods, White Plains, 1961-70. Personnel Management for Bird’s Eye, Jell-O, Institutional Foods Products, Maxwell House, and Corporate Personnel Director 1970-79. American Maize Products Co., Stamford, CT 1979-86 as Chief Admin . Officer and V. President Personnel. He retired at the end of 1986.

Through the years he was a member of: American Psychological Assn., The Society of the Sigma Xi (science honorary), Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology honorary), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (music Honorary), American Society of Training Directors (ASTD), Delta Upsilon, Navy League, American Legion, Navy Musicians Assn., American Battleship Assn., and Columbia Midshipman’s Assn.

For many years he was a member of the Greenwich Country Club and The Cos Cob Yacht Club.

At various times he was listed in the “Who’s Who” editions for: The East, Finance and Industry, and The World.

A lifetime member of the Congregational Church, he had been a deacon, trustee, and the Moderator of Stanwich Church from 1966-1976, and a Senior Deacon at Second Congregational Church. He was a member of The First Congregational Church of Lake Worth of Lake Worth, Florida since 1995. He proudly sang in that church choir.

The Gates family home from 1966 was 543 Stanwich Road, Greenwich, CT. It was sold October 2004.

Edgar married Patricia A. McCarty, whom he met at Ohio University in September 1949. They both obtained their master’s degrees in psychology and sociology. She died in Florida on February 16, 2006.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Philip James Gates and Lisa Stroben Gates; daughter and son-in-law, Karen Gates Moore and Barry Alan Moore; grandchildren, Jonathan Gates Moore, Tyler James Moore and his wife Alexa Moore, Matthew Austin Moore, and Sarah Allyson Moore. He is also survived by his sister, Dr. Anne Gates Stokes and her four sons, their wives and children. His significant other during his later years was Sue Dauphin.

A Florida “snowbird” he had homes in Fort Lauderdale and South Palm Beach for more than 30 years. His final residence was at Lakeside Village in Lantana, Florida. His graveside service will be private and will take place with military honors in the family plot at Stanwich Church Cemetery, Greenwich, Connecticut. Arrangements in Florida have been entrusted to Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens Funeral home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461. Arrangements in Connecticut have been entrusted to Leo P. Gallagher and Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch Street, Greenwich, CT 06830 where a public visitation will be held from 12 Noon until 2 PM on Saturday, November 23rd. To leave an online condolence please visit www.leopgallaghergreenwich.com.