Emory D. Ayers, 85, died peacefully in his home in Stonington, on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, surrounded by family, friends, and clergy. His death was due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
Emory was born Dec. 23, 1928, in Tyus, Ga., the son of Enoch and Lottie Ayers. He received a civil engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1950, and was on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1950 to 1953. He participated in the Inchon landing during the Korean War and was awarded the Korean Service Medal 5 Stars, United Nations Medal, and the Navy Occupation Medal. He was in the Navy Reserves until receiving an honorable discharge in 1961.
From 1953 to 1972, Emory was employed by Union Carbide Corp., in Charleston, W.Va., and New York City, and he became executive in charge of Union Carbide’s Tin and Tantalum business in Thailand.
He earned his MBA from New York University in 1962. He was employed by Theodore Barry Associates from 1972 to 1974 and founded Emory Ayers Associates in 1974, later named Ayers/Whitmore Associates, New York. He served as chairman, Interstate Bakeries, Kansas City, in 1984; and founded and served as president of New York Management Consultants from 1985 to 1998, where he worked with top management on strategic issues for companies including Standard Oil, Alyeska Pipeline, and the IBM Personal Computer Group. He also consulted with New York Consulting Partners. Emory retired from consulting in 2003.
From an early age, Emory was interested in seeking the Divine. He was active in a number of churches during his life including St. Matthews Church, Wilton, where he served on the Vestry and became Warden. He studied with Dr. Thomas Hora, Founder of the New York Institute of Metapsychiatry from 1979 to 1995. In 1997, with his wife, Susan, Emory founded Avatar Meher Baba Foundation, Inc., dedicated to the teachings of Avatar Meher Baba. Emory joined Calvary Church (Episcopal), in Stonington. Emory was grateful for all the people who were a beneficial presence during his spiritual journey including Rev. Dr. Alfred Tisdale, Rev. Dr. Douglass Lind, Dr. Thomas Hora, and Bhau Kalchuri.
Emory’s passions included music, sailing, and cycling. He was a longtime member of Masons Island Yacht Club, Mystic, and Emory was also a member of The Union League Club, New York, N.Y., and The Economics Club, New York, N.Y.
Emory is survived by Susan, his wife of 32 years; his brother, Fred and his wife, Pat; three children from his first marriage to Alice Lowndes Ayers, Daniel and spouse, Tony Seguino, Elizabeth Ayers Cabrera, Jonathan and wife, Heryun Kim Ayers; and four grandchildren, Alice Marie Cabrera, Kimberly Danielle Ayers, Lauren Juliet Ayers, and Margaret Brooke Ayers.
A Celebration of Emory’s Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, at Calvary Church, Stonington, followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice in honor of the life of Emory Ayers.
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