Classmate of the Moment - May 2024

Dispatch from the Catholic Mass in celebration of Marty Doggett’s life held in Newburyport, Massachusetts on May 6. The church was full, the singing robust, and the eulogies personal and funny.

Marty Doggett ’73, who died March 11 of primary amyloidosis, had a vast array of family and friends, including pews full of classmates there to wish him a final farewell. In addition to numerous church members and community friends, students and faculty from the Lawrenceville School where Marty taught for years and Governors Academy where Marty ended his career as head of school were among the throng. 

Marty’s family took center stage: five sons, Patrick, Andrew, Dan'l, Colin and David '12, and four daughters-in-law to match, seven darling granddaughters and one grandson, born shortly before Marty passed, and wife Patty, Tom Hyndman’s sister. 

Oldest son Patrick spoke of Marty as a dad for all seasons and, looking right at his brothers and Patty, he said that as his dad’s health deteriorated, Marty’s concern focused on reminding his boys to look after Patty. His sister Eileen spoke of Marty’s constant tormenting of his younger siblings and acknowledged that she resented the family mandate to attend ALL of Marty’s football games at Williams until she was old enough to see that some of Marty’s teammates were pretty darn cute. 

And, yes, as you could expect, brother-in-law and classmate Tom Hyndman dragged out several old Williams stories that have grown grander with each telling. These included Marty and Lenny Vecchio literally bumping to the Pope in his chambers in St. Peters in Rome (oops!), the encounter that cemented Marty’s request for forgiveness by means of a full Catholic Mass memorial, and that oft told tale of Prospect House class of ’73 spending way too much time watching "All My Children" and stalking the cast to the point that the star, Larry Keith, actually paid a visit to Williams to the delight of his adoring, and frankly surprised, fans. 

Our collective memories list these classmates and spouses as present and accounted for: Our VP Connie Rudnick Grayson, Lenny and Anne Vecchio, Dave Driscoll, Tom Lee and Mary McTernon '76, Bob and Mary Koegel, Ellen Muglia, Jackie Oliveri, Andy and Robin Harper (signed the guest book but not sighted), Emlen Drayton, Skip Masback, Kent Hoffman, Dick Small, John Sivright, Mary Schendel and Phil Gleason, and brother-in-law Tom Hyndman and Laurie. A number of other alums from various classes were also in attendance.

Suffice it to say, the outpouring of love, respect and sadness was palpable. It was a wonderful recognition of an amazing life.