[neact] Roy Upham's funeral

Hello All,
    Roy had a very nice funeral at the St. Anselm College chapel on Tuesday
April 18.  I estimated about 130 people in attendance, perhaps half of those
being family gathered at the front of the church, so the ³non-family²
attendance was certainly a tribute to Roy.  I counted 14 priests/monks on
the altar, so that community also obviously held him in very high regard.
    After the service proper, it was mentioned that Roy had been his high
school valedictorian.  I think I heard the eulogist say that his valedictory
address was on ³Careers in Chemistry.²  ;-)   Apparently he volunteered for
the army at the beginning of WWII, but was rejected.   Three weeks later he
was drafted.  [Some things do not change...]  He and Aurie were married in
1945, and had  8 children.  There are now 24 grandchildren, and I think I
heard,  6 great grandchildren.
    One of Roy and Aurie¹s daughters pointed out that the special flower
bouquet in front of the altar had the inscribed ribbon ³ROYGBIV,²   then
went on to explain that for the ³non-chemists² in the audience.  Their son
[sorry, I did not catch either daughter¹s or son¹s name] also told a few
stories, including what he said were two of Roy¹s favorite questions for the
younger set: 1) ³When they make Styrofoam, what do they pack it in?²  and 2)
³Who bought the first telephone?and Why?²
    Aurie was her usual super sharp self, spotting every individual in the
congregation as she went up the aisle.  She sends her best to all NEACTers.
    Morris and Doris Whitten made the pilgrimage from their home in Maine,
and succeeded in finding the chapel by 11:00 a.m. --a genuine
accomplishment, though aided by summer conference memories.

    Many thanks to Judith Kelley, Morris and Doris Whitten for having
informed us all, and apologies to any NEACTers there whom I did not see.


Steve Stepenuck

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