January 26, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

Obituaries

Isaac Tatnall Starr II

I. Tatnall Starr II, an avid fly fisherman and philanthropist, died Saturday, Jan. 21 at Keystone Hospice from thyroid cancer at the age of 66.

Mr. Starr, known as Tat, was born in Laverock, Pa, in 1939. He attended Chestnut Hill Academy and later graduated from St. Paul’s School in 1957. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1961, where he was also a member of St. Anthony Hall. Tat later earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. In a letter to Tat’s parents, a St. Paul’s School advisor wrote, “He is a remarkably fine boy, and I just want you to know that I, along with you, enjoy his achievement and his fine character.”

In addition to many honors and awards throughout his education it is notable that in 1961 Tat led his Yale squash team to defeat Harvard and win the National Championship (something Yale had not achieved in many years).

In 1962, Tat graduated from the U.S. Naval Officer’s Candidate School, Newport, R.I., among the top of his class. In the Navy, Tat served as a qualified watch officer on the guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock, which was the flagship of the 6th Fleet; his other responsibilities included communications/air traffic control.

After graduating from Wharton, Tat joined the investment firm Drexel Harriman Ripley (Drexel Burnham). In 1971 he was recruited to join the Philadelphia investment firm Mitchell & Sinkler, where he later became a partner. Tat retired from the firm in January 2005.

He devoted his time to many charitable organizations. He served as a chairman of the board for both The Natural Lands Trust and The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education. He also served on many other boards, including The Philadelphia Zoo, Inglis House and Chestnut Hill Academy.

His recent joys included editing a newsletter for The Anglers Club of Philadelphia, tying flies, traveling, photo editing on his iMac, and designing a surprise 40th anniversary ring for his wife.

Tat is survived by his wife, Mary Detweiler Starr; son William F. Starr of Bend, Ore.; daughters Emily L. Starr of Austin, Texas, and Elise L. Starr of Northampton, Mass.; three sisters, Anna S. Tyson of Wyndmoor, Pa., Talmadge S. Renault of Old Lyme, Conn., and May S. Emerson of Strafford, Vt.; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 28, at St. Paul’s Church, 22 East Chestnut Hill Avenue, Chestnut Hill. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Keystone Hospice, 8765 Stenton Ave., Wyndmoor, PA 19038-8317 in memory of Tat Starr.

Thomas Harper

Thomas B. Harper III, 81, retired Philadelphia lawyer and WW II veteran, died Jan. 21, at Foulkeways at Gwynedd.

Formerly of Lafayette Hill, Mr. Harper practiced law for many years at Stradley, Ronan, Stevens and Young, LLP. He was, prior to his retirement, managing partner of the firm.

Mr. Harper grew up in Chestnut Hill and graduated from Our Mother of Consolation Roman Catholic parish school and LaSalle College High School. During WW II, after a brief stint at The Citadel in South Carolina in the Advanced Special Training program, he served in the Century (100th) Division of the United States Army in the European theater. He was twice honored with the Bronze Star for courageous service near the Neckar River in Heilbron, Germany.

Following the war, on the GI bill, he graduated from LaSalle College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and began his legal career. During his career as a lawyer, he represented several orders of religious sisters and priests, counseling them as they opened, owned and operated schools, hospitals and nursing homes in the Philadelphia area and elsewhere, including South America. He represented the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, principally Catholic Social Services, in adoption proceedings.

A devout Catholic, Mr. Harper was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and served on numerous charitable boards, including the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute, the Serra International Club (president of the Philadelphia chapter), La Salle College Alumni association (president), the Philadelphia Archdiocese Board of Education, the Presidents’ Councils for Chestnut Hill College and Gwynedd Mercy College, the Holy Redeemer Foundation board, the Holy Redeemer Visiting Nurse Agency board in N.J. and St. Mary’s Manor in Lansdale. Originally appointed to the Philadelphia Community College board by Mayor James H. Tate, Mr. Harper served on the board for several terms by appointment of the succeeding Philadelphia mayors.

Mr. Harper enjoyed walking along Forbidden Drive near the Wissahickon Creek, playing golf as a member of the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club and traveling with his wife, visiting Europe, South America, various parts of the United States, and returning often to Bermuda.

Mr. Harper is survived by his wife, Frances (McCarron), of 55 years, his six children: Dr. Patricia Harper Petrozza, M.D. of Statesville , N.C.; Sallyanne Harper (Francis Nathans) of Annandale, Va.; State Rep. Kate Harper, Esq. (Paul J. Kelly III), of Lower Gwynedd; Beth Harper Briglia (Michael) of Kimberton; Thomas M. Harper Jr. (Mary) of Villanova; and Mary Frances Harper, also of Lower Gwynedd. He is survived by eight grandchildren: Paul J. Kelly IV and Thomas Harper Kelly; Anthony J. Petrozza; Kathryn, Ryan and Andrew Briglia; and Rachel and Thomas M. Harper Jr. He is also survived by a sister, Nancy Presper, of Florence, N.J.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 428 S. Main St., North Wales at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Interment will follow at Ivy Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to LaSalle University, 1900 W. Olney Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19141.

Virginia Day

Virginia B. Day, 76, of Foulkeways at Gwynedd, died on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Ms. Day was a graduate of Kent Place School in Summit, N.J. and the University of Pennsylvania. She was a former dean of girls at Germantown Academy.

Ms. Day is survived by her brother, Robert M. Day, M.D. of Vero Beach, Fla.; her sister, Barbara Day Dugan of New Vernon, N.J.; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Louis D. Day Jr.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m. at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church, 8000 St. Martin’s Lane, Chestnut Hill. Interment is private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Germantown Academy, 340 Morris Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034.