Delano (Del) Wood Ladd, Jr., 93, of Greenwich and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at his home in Vero Beach on Nov. 2. He was born on Sept. 23, 1925, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Delano Wood and Caroline Heminway Ladd. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Mariette (Sis) Walker Ladd, his beautiful granddaughter Emily Prescott Rogers, and his sister Caroline Ladd McCullagh.
Del met his wife Sis in Madison, where they summered for many years. They both enjoyed tennis and were avid sailors, sailing on the Long Island Sound as well as cruising up and down the New England Coast on his boat, the Aladdin. They spent many happy years in Rye, New York, where they raised their family of six children, and later in Greenwich, before retiring to Vero Beach.
Del is survived by his two sons, Delano W. Ladd III (Nancy), of Rye, New York, and Willard F.W. Ladd (Katarina) of Riverside; and four daughters, Cynthia Ladd of Guilford, Marcy Champagne (Chip) of Northfield, Illinois, Susan Rogers (Will) of Dover, Massachusetts, and Margot Brady (Sean) of Riverside. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and by his sister Cornelia Ladd O’Grady (Robert).
After attending elementary school in Plainfield, New Jersey, Del graduated from the Taft School (head monitor), the Merchant Marine Academy, and Yale University. During WWII, he served as an ensign in the Merchant Marine, and as a lieutenant J.G. in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Upon graduation from Yale after the war, he began a successful business career at Owens-Corning Fiberglass, where he rose to vice president, and then became chairman and CEO of Edwin Bird Wilson, a marketing and advertising firm in New York City. He also participated in numerous industry and educational organizations, serving as treasurer of the American Advertising Association, and on the Board of Trustees of the Taft School, Rye Country Day School, the Madeira School, the Westminster School, and the Oldfields School.
Del was an accomplished athlete, playing collegiate basketball and baseball. In addition to sailing, he was an avid “rackets” sportsman, playing squash, tennis, and paddle tennis throughout much of his life.
He competed successfully in numerous club sailing races and tennis tournaments, particularly in Madison, where his name often appears on the club’s walls as a tournament winner. He was a fierce competitor and took great pleasure in being undefeated against his children in tennis.
Del believed passionately in the importance of commitment, leadership, and setting an example by one’s actions. He was steadfastly devoted to his family and his friends. He strongly believed in helping others, particularly young adults starting out in professional life. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and many whose lives he touched.
Memorial services will be held at Christ’s Church in Rye, New York, on Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. and at The Community Church of Vero Beach in Vero Beach, Florida, on Jan. 10 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Delano Ladd’s name to The Taft School, for the “Civics Initiative” curriculum, 110 Woodbury Rd., Watertown, CT 06795. An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
