Harry Charles Payne – 50th Reunion Essay

Harry Charles Payne

Date of Death: 7-Jan-2008

College: Trumbull

(This memorial appeared in the May/June 2008 issue of the Class Notes.)

Hank Payne died in January 2008. Hank received his BA and MA in 1969 and his PhD from Yale in 1973. He was married to Deborah Laipson shortly after graduation. Hank began as an assistant professor of history at Colgate in 1973, became provost at Haverford College in 1985, president of Hamilton College in 1988, and then president of Williams College in 1994. He was president of Woodward Academy at the time of his death.

From David Lionel Smith in the Boston Globe: He was a brilliant man. He had an amazing intellectual gift. He was extraordinarily quick and was able to see things with a great clarity, and he was an accomplished problem-solver.

From Tom J. Reed: One of the brightest lights of our class—always with a book under his arm and a smile on his face. He seemed at ease with his path as scholar and wore his learning lightly and gracefully.

From Greg Coleman: His wife Deborah, and sons Jonathan and Sam would love to hear from any and all of you who knew him. I’m sure Woodward Academy would forward any messages. This is such a devastating loss after such a distinguished career. I miss him.

Here is what Hank wrote in his final paragraph of our 25th reunion class book: “Somewhere during that first year of Directed Studies at Yale, I discovered a passion for learning and ideas, and at some later point, I discovered a yen for public affairs and activity. It has been my great good fortune to be able to combine these yearnings on beautiful campuses, surrounded by bright people, in companionship with the woman I have loved for 30 years.” A life well lived, cut tragically short.