Oliver Caldwell Biddle, 96, formerly of Chestnut Hill, a lawyer and author who was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family, died March 21 at The Hill at Whitemarsh.Mr. Biddle had a long and successful career as both a civil and criminal trial lawyer, first at Cravath, Swaine and Moore, in New York City, and later at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, in Philadelphia, where he served for many years as chairman of its Litigation Department.In retirement, he turned to writing, publishing a three-volume historical saga about the Bigelow and Caldwell side of his family. He also wrote a memoir reflecting on his war experience, a book about the Biddle legacy which compiled accounts of notable past and present members of the Biddle family, and several unpublished memoirs about his career and later life in Chestnut Hill.Mr. Biddle was a direct descendant of William and Sarah Biddle, early settlers and Quakers who came to America 1681 along with William Penn to escape religious persecution in England.Born in Belmont, Mass., he attended St. Bernard’s elementary school, Milton Academy, where he was captain of the tennis team and competed on an undefeated wrestling team, and Harvard College, where he was a member of the naval ROTC and rowed on an undefeated lightweight varsity crew team that set a Charles River record.Graduating in less than three years, he served in the Navy during World War II and was assigned as a lieutenant to destroyer duty in the South Pacific on the USS Borie and later on the USS Paul Hamilton, the only destroyer in a squadron of eight that had not been sunk by the end of the war. For his service he was awarded eight battle stars.After the war, Mr. Biddle pursued a career in law, graduating from Columbia Law School, where he was a member of the law review. He clerked for United States Circuit Court Judge William Hastie, a civil rights leader and the first African American to serve as federal judge.He served on the Bill of Rights Committee of the New York Bar Association and received special recognition from all three New York Bar Associations for his pro bono work.Just prior to and following the war, Mr. Biddle had three marriages ending in divorce. In 1968 he married Mary Van Sciver, of Chestnut Hill, a marriage that lasted until his death. At their home of over 40 years in Chestnut Hill, they cultivated an award-winning garden which they opened to the public for charity and horticultural tours.Mr. Biddle was an accomplished flautist and once served on the board of directors at the Philadelphia Musical Academy. He remained athletic throughout his life, playing tennis, running, and swimming into his 90s.He was a member of the Philadelphia Club and a life member of the Philadelphia Cricket Club.In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Geoffrey Biddle, of Berkeley, Calif.; daughters Christine Biddle, of Pound Ridge, N.Y., Julia Biddle, of Ocean View, Hawaii; Olivia Biddle, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Claudia Biddle, of Boston, and Vanessa Biddle, of Los Angeles; a stepdaughter, Theresa Crowley, of Malvern; a stepson, Tate Anthony, of West Chester; a half-brother, Christopher Stark Biddle, of Craftsbury Common, Vt.; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Brothers Sydney Biddle and Peter Biddle preceded him in death.At Mr. Biddle’s request, there will be no funeral service. – WF
