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George M. “Bud” Lethbridge, Jr., Essex, formerly of Lyme

George M. “Bud” Lethbridge, Jr., a resident of Essex Meadows for six years and Lyme for 18 years prior to that, died peacefully on May 20 with his three children around him. He was the husband of the late Helen Thomas Lethbridge, who predeceased him in 1986.  Bud was born in 1925 and was raised in Upper Montclair, New Jersey.  He graduated from Phillips Academy, Andover in 1943 and Princeton University in 1947, where his studies were interrupted by his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, now the U.S. Air Force. During a training mission, Bud survived a crash that took the lives of fellow crew members. 

Bud spent his professional career at General Electric until he retired in 1980.  His wife, Helen Thomas Lethbridge, was the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire, at the time of her death.  Bud followed in her footsteps and served on the Board of Trustees of Colby-Sawyer from 1991 to 1999.  He chaired the Finance Committee, and under his leadership the college doubled the size of the student body and built new facilities, including dormitories.  Both Helen and Bud independently received the Susan Colby Cleveland Award for Distinguished Service to the college, and in 2004, the college dedicated a new recreational and study center to Helen and Bud, naming it Lethbridge Lodge.

Bud spent 80 summers returning to Point O’ Woods on Fire Island, a community he loved, and where many of his lifelong friendships began.

Bud was known for his humility, unwavering interest in others, loyalty to his friends and schools, dedication to his family, and for being the last one on the dance floor.

Bud is survived by his three children, Sally Hunsdorfer and her husband Peter of Marion, Massachusetts, Thomas “Todd” Lethbridge of Sierra Madre, California, and Scott Lethbridge and his wife Catherine Aubrey Lethbridge of Yonkers, New York.  He is also survived by his brother John D. “Jack” Lethbridge and four grandchildren, Thomas “Todd” Hunsdorfer, Ben Hunsdorfer, Aubrey Lethbridge and Charlotte Lethbridge.

Memorial services will be held in Hamilton Hall at Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Rd., Essex, at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday, June 8, and at The Church at Point O’ Woods on Fire Island at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3.  Donations in his name may be made to The Himalayan Project (himalayanproject.org), or to Musica Sacra (musicasacrany.org), organizations that he supported and his children champion.