Obituary: Benjamin F. Sylvester Jr., 99, of Guilford

Obituary courtesy of Guilford Funeral Home:

Benjamin F. Sylvester Jr. of Guilford, a retired history teacher and coach, died February 15, 2024 at age 99 at home. Born in Omaha, Neb., he was the son of Benjamin Sylvester and Ruth Mills Sylvester.

A graduate of that city’s Central High School, he was elected to the school’s Hall of Fame.

After Army service in World War II, he earned degrees from Harvard University and from St. Catherine's College, Oxford, England, where he was a championship rower and an annual prize is named after him. Mr. Sylvester taught and coached crew at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford for 40 years; the school’s boathouse on Lake Quonnipaug in Guilford is named for him.

In 1961, he married the former LeMoyne Dodge, who survives him. He also leaves two children, Benjamin Sylvester III and Nina Healy; and six grandchildren, Ben Sylvester IV, Tyler Sylvester, Toby Sylvester, Norah Healy, Finn Healy, and Aidan Healy.

A private graveside service with military honors will take place at North Guilford Cemetery, Guilford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Choate Rosemary Hall crew program in honor of Benjamin Sylvester Jr., 333 Christian St., Wallingford, CT 06492 or www.choate.edu/giving.