Spencer Lloyd Plehaty, age 92, passed away peacefully on Aug. 4, 2017 in Boulder, Colo., with his nearest family by his side.
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Image by Willie Wax on Wikimedia Commons
Lloyd was born Oct. 23, 1924, in White Plains, N.Y., to Carl (Sr.) and Svea (Grape) Plehaty.
He graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown in 1948 with a B.A. in math and physics, and New York University, N.Y., in 1953 with an M.E.E. in Electronics.
Lloyd served his country during World War II as an Ensign in UDT-4, training in underwater demolition, reconnaissance, and mine disposal at Ft. Pierce, Fl.
After the war was over, he transferred to the U.S. Naval Reserve, attaining the rank of leutenant commander before retiring in 1970. He frequently attended reunions of the UDT SEAL Association as late as 1998.
His working career consisted of three years as an applied physicist with U.S. Naval Ordnance Lab and many years as senior systems engineer with the Norden Division of United Aircraft Corp.
Lloyd resided in Darien for most of his adult life, and served faithfully on the Darien Representative Town Meeting for many years. As often as the weather would allow, he made the trek out to Colorado to be with family for Christmas, and indulged in traditional Swedish dinners.
Lloyd was never married, and was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Svea, and his older brother, Carl W. Plehaty, Jr. He is survived by his nephew, Carl W. Plehaty III, of Erie, Colo.; sister-in-law, Phyllis Plehaty, of Boulder, Colo.; and cousins: Barbara (Grape) Seymour of Dallas, Jerry Grape of Beacon, N.Y., and Karin Skola of Lehigh Acres, Fl.
His fondest wish in later years was to move to Erie to be with his closest family members. Sadly, ”Uncle Penn” left us all too soon shortly after arriving at his new home in Boulder.
Cremation has been handled by Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, Longmont, Colo., and inurnment is in the family plot at Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan.