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Robert Alexander McDade died October 14 following a long battle with cancer. One of relatively few U.S. Army colonels to served in the infantry in three wars, he was 87.
Wounded many times, Colonel McDade served in the South Pacific in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In addition to his combat assignments, he held several important military posts in Washington, D.C., New York City, Germany and Panama. After retiring from the U.S. Army in 1975, he and his wife, Elinor Van Ingen, settled in Sag Harbor, and in the 1980s he was elected to its Village Board of Trustees.
Mr. McDade and his wife—a painter—established and managed the Goat Alley Gallery for 23 years. Through their efforts, the gallery became well known for its annual “725 Show” of work created by artists living in the area served by the 725 telephone exchange.
A member of the Wednesday Lunch Club, which was attended by writers, editors and business executives, Mr. McDade was a voracious reader, and later became a member of the board of the John Jermain Library.
Survivors recall him as an excellent storyteller with wry wit, though he declined on several occasions to write his memoirs. He liked to cook and to entertain. For several years he and his wife held White Elephant parties at which guests exchanged unwanted possessions. At their Christmas parties he delighted in giving inexpensive gifts to everyone, and was a judge at the couple’s annual Easter party, at which guests competed to paint the most original or beautiful egg.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by many cousins and many friends.
A memorial gathering to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, November 7, at 11 a.m., at the Goat Alley Gallery, 200 Division Street, Sag Harbor.
In lieu of flowers, donations to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978 would be appreciated by the family.
on Oct 21, 2009