Victoria Hay Pacaud

passed away peacefully at her home in New York City. She was 103 years old and would have celebrated her 104th birthday on April 15, 2017. Born in Manhattan and raised there and in Lakeville, CT, she was the daughter of Edwin Barrett Hay, Jr., and Victoria Dunston Hay. While her father was an investment banker by profession, his avocation was the theatre which he inherited from his father Col. E. B. Hay, a noted attorney, author and Gilbert & Sullivan actor in Washington, D. C. In pursuit of his passion, her father wrote plays, appeared in silent films and was an early member of the Lambs Club. He also was involved with the Italian production of "Ben Hur", the spectacular 1925 silent movie starring Ramon Novarro. His sister, Julia Hay, was a noted actress on the Broadway stage with her husband, George Nash. Mrs. Pacaud continued the family's theatrical interest through an investment in the Tony-winning Best Musical "Sweeney Todd". Her mother was a daughter of John Dunston, the proprietor of Jack's, one of New York's most famous restaurants for 34 years from 1891 to 1925 when Prohibition made it impossible to continue. Located on 43rd Street and Sixth Avenue across from the Hippodrome and having an all-night liquor license, it was frequented by the celebrities of the times. Mrs. Pacaud fondly remembered having ice cream there with her Grandfather Dunston. Her first marriage was to Henry Lafayette Collins, Jr. A well-known equestrian sports enthusiast, he served with great distinction as Master of Fox Hounds of the Radnor Hunt in suburban Philadelphia. They resided at Blackburn Farm in Berwyn, PA and their summer home in Somerset, Bermuda. He was the son of Henry Lafayette Collins and Elizabeth Burd Thaw Collins, both originally of Pittsburgh, PA. He died in 1961 at the age of 56. Her second marriage in 1968 was to Charles Edward Pacaud of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mr. Pacaud was a retired insurance executive, as well as a Canadian National Racquets Champion. They made their home in New York, Pennsylvania, Bermuda and Canada. He died in 2006 at the age of 97. In recent years she spent most of her time in New York City. In her 20's, she was an early model for Hattie Carnegie, a prominent New York fashion house in the 1930's. She met her first husband on a round the world cruise on which she was chaperoning a young cousin. Settling into country life in Pennsylvania, she became interested in outdoor sports including fly fishing, shooting and fox hunting, the latter on a weekly basis. Possessing a great sense of humor and when hosting gatherings, large and small, she charmed guests with the most curious and delightful stories. She was devoted to her husbands and they to her and also to her children and their families encouraging one and all to join in her activities. She was an honorary member of the Radnor Hunt (Pennsylvania), Bay Head Yacht Club (New Jersey), and Squadron A Association (New York) as well as a member of the Coral Beach Club (Bermuda), St. Andrew's Society of the State of New York (New York) and the Daughters of the American Revolution (Washington, DC). She was also a former member of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. She is survived by children from her first marriage, her son Henry Lafayette Collins, III (Suzanne) and her daughter Victoria (Deetsie) Collins Bradford (Wilson); five grandchildren, Henry Lafayette Collins, IV (Karen), Alexander Cassatt Collins, Tyler Collins Bradford (Elizabeth), Samuel Gartley Bradford (Nadia), and William Henry Bradford; and four great-grandchildren, Brandon Matthew Collins, Brian Dunston Collins, Louise Burd Bradford and Madeleine Fox Bradford and stepson James Carstairs Collins (Robin); and two step-grandchildren Barbara Collins Park (David) and James Carstairs Collins, Jr. From her second marriage, she is survived by four stepchildren, Tony Pacaud (Susan), Jill den Hertog, Marcia Pacaud and Jeremy Pacaud (Gail); four step-grandchildren, Matt Pacaud (Claire), Tim Pacaud (Letitia), Vicki Bryson (Scott) and Kirk Raper; and six step-great grandchildren, Charlotte Pacaud, Lucy Pacaud, Ethan Pacaud, Amelie Pacaud, Brittany Bryson and Morgan Bryson. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 11th at 10:00am at St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church, corner of Lexington Avenue and East 76th Street. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so on Friday, March 10th from 3:00 to 6:00pm at Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue (81st Street). In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Victoria Hay Pacaud may be made to St. Jean Baptiste Church, 184 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10021, Attn: Rev. John A. Kamas, SSS and/or Squadron A Foundation in support of health and wellness programs for active military, veterans and their families, 3 West 51st Street, New York, NY 10019.