Walter Amory
1924 - 2014
Walter Amory of Duxbury died peacefully at Newfield House in Plymouth on Oct. 27, 2014. He was 90 years old. The husband of the former Shirley Gay Waterman, Mr. Amory was a Naval veteran of two
wars, a sailor, and lover of the sea. He founded and ran Amory Engineers in Duxbury until he retired in 2010 at the age of 86. Throughout his life he was a contributing citizen and an ardent mentor of the young.
Walter Amory Jr. was born in Boston on August 6, 1924, the son of Walter Amory and Elizabeth Cole Amory. At 18, his father was a WWI fighter pilot in the British Royal Air Force. Mr. Amory graduated from Groton School in 1942 and entered Harvard College with the class of 1946. Through Navy ROTC he graduated in two and a half years and went on active duty. On his 21st birthday on August 6, 1945, he was a navigator aboard the destroyer USS Swanson, headed for the expected assault on Japan, when word came of the bombing of Hiroshima.
On his release from active duty Mr. Amory returned to Harvard for a master's degree in structural engineering. On Nov. 1, 1947, he was married to Shirley Gay Waterman. The couple moved to Wellesley, where they would live for 25 years and raise two daughters, Lucy and Susan, and two sons, David and William.
In 1951 Mr. Amory was recalled for two years' duty in the Korean War aboard the USS Murray -- a destroyer fitted for antisubmarine warfare. In Wellesley Mr. Amory coached Little League baseball, served on the PTA, was chairman of United Fund drive, was a town meeting member and served for many years on the Board of Public Works. In 1973 the Amorys moved to Duxbury where he founded Amory Engineers. Over the next 37 years the firm, specializing in waterworks, worked all over New England with government and private companies to create water treatment plants, repair dams, control storm water and erect storage tanks; environmental work was always an important part of the practice. Over the years Mr. Amory
employed and mentored 50 Northeastern University co-op students. His volunteer commitments included the Duxbury Bay Maritime School, the Duxbury Beach Reservation and the Wildlands Trust of Southeastern Massachusetts.
Walter is survived by his wife Shirley W. Amory of Duxbury, his Daughter Lucy A. Bradley and her husband David H. "Chip" Bradley of Weston, daughter Susan A. Barber of Needham, son David L. Amory and his wife Susan S.T. Amory of Duxbury, son William C. Amory of Sarasota FL. Walter was the loving grandfather of Amory B. Barnes and her husband Elijah Barnes of Chevy Chase, MD, Stephanie B. Ade and her husband Christopher Ade of Chapel Hill, NC, William A. Barber of Waltham MA, Christopher M. Barber and his wife Heather Barber of San Diego, CA, Linzee A. Feigenbaum and her husband Eric Feigenbaum of Washington DC, John H. Amory of Portland ME. He is also survived by his niece Elizabeth Amory of Dover, MA and four great-grandchildren. A family Internment for Walter has been held. A memorial service to celebrate Walter's life will be held at St.John's Church in Duxbury on Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 at 11:00AM. Donations may be made in Walter's name to The Duxbury Beach Reservation, The Duxbury Bay Maritime School or The Harvard College Fund, Class of 1946.