1 Photo
Samuel Bellows Gilpin III, longtime resident of Sagaponack, died at home on Shelter Island, on March 16, 2019. Sandy, as he was known by his friends, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1927.
Mr. Gilpin graduated from the Haverford School in 1944 and Yale University in 1949. During his college years, and after, he served in the U.S. Navy as lieutenant junior grade in naval intelligence. He was president of Timothy Dwight College, sang in the Yale Glee Club and played squash and soccer. He served as a class agent from graduation until his death, earning the distinction of being the longest-serving class agent for Yale. An avid tennis and squash player, he won many club championships at the Yale Club in New York City and the Merion Cricket Club. He also loved to ski and dance.
After college, he went to work for Continental Can Company before founding Gilpin and Company, Inc. The packaging industry had him traveling around the world several times, forging lasting friendships with colleagues across the globe.
He was a member of his beloved Marble Collegiate Church, where he worshiped most Sundays and was a long-serving usher and greeter at the front door. He donated the funding to the church for first powerwashing of the structure, which dates back to the early 1600s, as well as for exterior lighting on the grounds.
Mr. Gilpin is survived by his spouse, Elizabeth “Lisa” M. Gilpin; daughter Marisa H. Gilpin of Clinton; son Luke H. Gilpin of Shelter Island; sister Ann Taylor of Pennsylvania; stepbrother W. Craig Heston of Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Gilpin residence on Saturday, May 25, at 2 p.m. at 21 Smith Street, Shelter Island.
on May 20, 2019