To: The St. Lawrence Community
From: William L. Fox, President
Date: September 26, 2011
Subject: In Memory: Archie MacAllaster, Trustee Emeritus
The Laurentian community has lost one of the tall pillars of its history with the death Saturday of Archie MacAllaster, Trustee Emeritus.
Archie was a deeply and immovably planted son of the North Country who even as an international figure in the world of Wall Street never forgot his childhood home. He faithfully read the weekly newspapers of the North Country and often had news for me (and my predecessors) about the community that far exceeded my own nearby sources. Archie’s presence on campus to welcome Lynn and me in our first October was an unforgettable touch of kindness, particularly since I had known his son Sandy while we were St. Lawrence students.
Archie F. MacAllaster, a member of the Class of 1950 who earned his B.S. degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1953, was chairman of MacAllaster, Pitfield, Mackay Co., Inc., an investment firm in New York City. Among the top 10 investment experts in the nation and one of the most venerable members of Barron’s Roundtable, Mr. MacAllaster was elected a trustee in 1977 and served as treasurer of the Board of Trustees. He was named a trustee emeritus in 1999 and accepted St. Lawrence’s highest honor, the Doctor of Humane Letters, at Commencement 2011.
He was born on October 16, 1928, into a prominent family in Gouverneur, N.Y.; his father, mother and brother all attended St. Lawrence. He was also the grandnephew of Sarah Sprague (class of 1865), the first woman to earn a St. Lawrence degree. In 1954 he married Barbara “Babs” Torrey ’51, daughter of the late one-time chair of the Board of Trustees Arthur S. Torrey ’24. The MacAllasters established a scholarship for student leaders in honor of Mr. Torrey.
He was the father of Archie “Sandy” MacAllaster III ’78, who died in 1979; the soccer field is named in Sandy’s memory. His support of St. Lawrence provided for the MacAllaster Room in Owen D. Young Library, which memorializes his son, and contributed significantly to extensive renovation of the president’s house, which in 1999 was renamed MacAllaster House in recognition. He and his wife also funded scholarships in honor of their parents and their late son.
At St. Lawrence he played freshman football and basketball and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He served in the U.S. Navy 1953-57. He served for two years as Alumni Fund chair for Fairfield County, Conn. He also served on the Investment Committee, was a career advisor, was a member of the Campaign Steering Committee and was active in Reunion fund-raising. He was a director of Lexington Research, Management Corp; Life Investors, Ltd.; and the Clark Foundation, and a trustee of the Unquowa School. He was an active though quiet supporter of many North Country civic causes, thereby touching thousands of lives.
Lynn and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to Babs, David, Sarah, and all the members of the MacAllaster and Torrey families. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Southport Congregational Church, 524 Pequot Ave., Southport, CT.
In lieu of flowers, the MacAllaster family invites memorial contributions to St. Lawrence University.
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