Anthony Morris Zane died of Covid-19 pneumonia on June 11, 2021 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was born in Philadelphia on February 2, 1930, the only child of Gertrude Lippincott Borton and John Hamilton Zane. It was his good fortune to grow up in Chestnut Hill and to be educated at Chestnut Hill Academy, Middlesex School, the University of Virginia and Trinity College, Cambridge. In December 1953 it was his even greater good fortune to marry Mary Eustis Thayer, also of Philadelphia. They have four children: Molly in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Annie in Felton, California; John and his wife Petra in Bavaria, Germany; Alex and his wife Celia in Kingston, New York; the widow of his deceased son George, Alexandra in Ajijic, Mexico; and five grandchildren.
Tony served two years in the US Army; he was vice-president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and director of the Whaling Museum in New Bedford. The profession he enjoyed most, however, was that of schoolteacher, his calling for 27 years. He taught and coached at Chestnut Hill Academy and at St. Marks School. From 1972 to 1984 he was headmaster of St. George’s School in Middletown, RI.
Tony was particularly fond of dogs, books, newspapers, the music of his youth, the Red Sox, sailing the coast of Maine, and dining with family and friends. He aged gracefully, boating into his eighties and playing tennis into his nineties.
He served on a number of non-profit boards, the last being Springside Chestnut Hill Academy where he was a trustee for ten years. He was a member of the Headmasters Association, the Tavern Club, the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, and the Bird and Bottle in New Bedford.
Tony wants to thank the staff of Hawthorn Medical Associates, St. Luke’s and Vibra Hospitals for keeping him going as long as they did.
There will be a celebration Sunday September 26th at 11 AM at the Wamsutta Club, 427 County Street, New Bedford.
Contributions in Tony’s memory will be welcome at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com