[Editor’s Note: The following obituary information, as well as a digital guest book, is provided by Hoyt Funeral Home in the New Canaan business’s obituaries section.]
A. Reid Cross, longtime resident of New Canaan, Connecticut, died of Lymphoma on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at Smilow Cancer Center, Yale-New Haven Hospital at the age of 85.
He was born Dec. 31, 1927 in Stamford, the son of Arthur Reid Cross and Marjorie Davidson Cross of Darien. He attended Darien schools, graduating from Darien High School in 1945. He entered Bowdoin College, and after his freshman year he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Italy. He returned to Bowdoin and graduated in 1950. Recalled to active duty in the army, he attended Officer Candidate School. Upon completion of this tour of duty he went to work for Pitney Bowes in Stamford.
In 1955 he married Nancy Bechert of Stamford.
Taking a leave of absence from Pitney Bowes in 1965, he joined the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington D.C., where he served as Kenya Desk Officer and also attended Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He and his young family then moved to Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa for two years, where he served as Assistant Program Officer. In 1968 he returned to Pitney Bowes headquarters, where he held a number of executive positions, including a two-year assignment in London, England. He retired in 1988 after 34 years with the company.
His community activities included a leadership role in the early years of the Stamford United Way, serving as a director and officer of several organizations in the field of mental health, and as a director of the Stamford chapter of the American Red Cross. He was active with the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut, as well as serving as President of Interfaith of New Canaan. He was a longtime member of community bands in Darien, New Canaan, and Westport, playing the trombone. Additional interests included listening to classical music and gardening. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church of New Canaan.
He was a director of the former Citizen’s Savings Bank of Stamford and its successor, Gateway Bank.
In addition to his wife he is survived by their children Alison Hubley (Adam) of Madison, CT, Bruce Cross (Grace) of Rowayton, CT, Jeffrey Cross (Allison) of Wilton, CT, Martha Stewart (Glenn) of Madison, CT, and Susie Davidson (Bill) of Rancho Santa Fe, California. He is also survived by his grandchildren Stephanie Hubley, Ellie Hou, Justin and Ryan Cross, Dennis and Meggie Stewart, and Kelly and Andrew Davidson. He was predeceased by a granddaughter, Angela Hubley. Additional survivors include his sister Shirley Duff (Bill) of Lexington, MA, and cousin Mary Davidson of Westbury, New York.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 1 from 4 to 7 pm at the United Methodist Church of New Canaan, 165 South Avenue. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 3 pm at the United Methodist Church of New Canaan, 165 South Avenue.
Memorial contributions may be given to the American Red Cross, New Canaan chapter, or to the United Methodist Church of New Canaan.
Hoyt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
