Proctor Spaulding Waterman died Sunday afternoon, March 13, surrounded by his loving family. He was 89 years old.
Proc was born in Montclair, N.J., on March 9, 1927, and attended Montclair Academy and The Taft School. He served in the U.S. Navy at the end of the Second World War and graduated from Williams College on the GI Bill.
He studied medicine in Switzerland, where he met his bride of 63 years, Nicole Olry deLabry. They married in 1953 and settled into an apartment on Fifth Avenue. Proc’s early career was in advertising. In 1957, he moved his young family to Lincoln Avenue in Old Greenwich. In 1972, the Watermans moved to 21 Leeward Lane in Riverside, which would be the family home for the next 43 years.
Proc’s later career was in executive search. But his proudest accomplishment was raising his three daughters, Pam, Christie and Mary Lou, whom he fondly called his three jewels. He was a faithful parishioner of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and enjoyed travel to the Holy Lands, China and Europe to visit Nicole’s family, and Asia, to visit Pam and Christie.
He had many hobbies that kept him busy: antiquing, refinishing furniture, gardening and skiing. He will be remembered for his sharp intellect, conservative values, Yankee thrift, genealogical interest in the family tree, devotion to his mother, for whom he was named, the high standards he set for his daughters, pride in his New England heritage, and as a student of history, geography, politics, music and art.
Most of all, Proc’s family and friends salute his steadfast devotion to his wife, Nicole, and his love for his daughters. He is also survived by three loving sons-in-law and six grandchildren: Ken Paley, husband of Pam, and Jeff and Lauren, of Cincinnati; Scott Kozak, husband of Christie, and Steven and Leigh, of Sudbury, Mass.; and Mark Tolette, husband of Mary Lou, and Robby and Anna, of Cos Cob.
A service celebrating Proc’s life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 200 Riverside Ave., Riverside, on Saturday, April 2, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution to Proc’s beloved St. Paul’s Church (Faith in Action Team).
