Alex McGhie (1930-2017)
John Alexander (Alex) McGhie, 86, formerly of Garrison and most recently of Scarborough, Maine, died Jan. 17, 2017.
Alex was born in Evanston, Illinois, on June 23, 1930, to Malcolm Stuart and Elizabeth Drake (Platt) McGhie. He grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut and later earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Princeton University, graduating in 1952. For the next two years he served in the U.S. Navy as an officer aboard the “tin can” USS Everett F. Larson.
He married Diana Brothers of Greenwich in 1956. The couple moved from New York City to Garrison after their first daughter was born. There they raised their four children until their divorce in 1980. Alex and Diana rekindled their friendship later in life and remained devoted friends to the end.
Alex left the R&D Department of the St. Regis Paper Company to partner with his father and brother, Bruce, in McGhie Associates, Inc., a corporate communications firm on Madison Avenue, where Alex specialized in financial writing for the timber, paper and insurance industries.
After his retirement from business in 1989 he realized that he was happiest in Maine. He was affectionately referred to as “Grumpy” by his family, a moniker he gamely considered apt.
He is survived by his children, Claire McGhie of Edgewater, New Jersey, Andrea West of Ossining, Gordon McGhie of Cortlandt Manor and Mark McGhie; and daughter-in-law Tracy of Portland, Maine. He is also survived by five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Alex’s life is being planned. For information, email [email protected].
John Spada (1942-2017)
Natale John Spada, 74, of Garrison, died Jan. 24, 2017. Born in Mt. Vernon on Feb. 18,1942, he was the son of John and Mary (Paterno) Spada.
John graduated from Iona College in 1964, after which he joined Con Edison as part of its management trainee program. He retired in 2000 after 36 years of service. Following his retirement, John became a substitute teacher for the Garrison school district. He also became a fully qualified fireman for the Garrison Volunteer Fire Department in 1997.
John and his wife Marguerite were longtime parishioners of Our Lady of Loretto, attending mass at St. Joseph’s chapel in Garrison.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by his children, John C. Spada and Natalie Spada-Martinez, two grandchildren Victor & Emma Martinez, his sister Marianne Tallerico (Nick) and his brother Charles Spada (Jeanette).
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, Jan. 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott St, Cold Spring. Mass will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Saint Augustine, 381 North Highland Ave., Ossining.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 2900 Westchester Ave., Suite 306, Purchase, NY 10577-2552.