In Memory of John Boydston Stetson

Obituary

John Boydston Stetson, age 95, of Barneveld, NY, died August 19, 2024. Born November 27, 1928, in Utica, NY, he was the son of Everett Halliday Stetson, of Auburn, ME, and Vinna Boydston Stetson, of Morgantown, WV. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother, Everett Halliday Stetson, Jr., his sister, Ann Weller, his wife, Margaret Tyler Stetson, and his grandson, Tyler Browne Stetson.

John graduated from New Hartford High School in 1946, and the US Naval Academy in 1950. He later earned a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Engineering from Princeton University.

After losing his father at an early age, John worked for the US Postal Service during high school. Following graduation from the US Naval Academy he participated in the Newport to Bermuda race as a crew member on Valarie, one of the Navy’s participating ocean racing sailboats. Returning to Annapolis, he was airlifted to his assignment on the USS Rochester (CA-124), in the Korean region with the US Navy 7th Fleet. In 1953, following two winters in Korean waters, John was transferred into the US Naval Civil Engineering Corps where he refined his skills in management and operations of public works, construction management, and engineering planning and design in the USA and abroad. Highlights with in his Naval career included a two-year assignment in Madrid, Spain as a project manager for construction of US Naval bases in that country, duty as Design Officer and Project engineer in the Southwest Division of The Bureau of Yards and Docks in San Diego, CA, and finally assigned to independent duty as Civil Engineering Consultant to Latin American Navies from a home base with his family in the Panama Canal Zone.

In 1963, John transferred to the Naval Reserves, ultimately achieving the rank of Captain, and returned to Utica to restart Dale Engineering Company, which later became Stetson-Harza Architects, Engineers and Construction Managers. The firm executed a broad spectrum of projects including industrial plants, highways, schools, hospitals, hydroelectric power plants, military facilities, and pharmaceutical projects. During John’s tenure as CEO, the firm expanded to more than 320 architects, engineers and technicians, mostly located in Utica. In 1992, Stetson-Harza was ranked #198 in Engineering News Records’ list of the nation’s 500 largest design firms.

After thirteen years of active duty in the US Navy and thirty years with Dale Engineering and Stetson-Harza, John transitioned from the business of engineering to various boards in the Utica area. Over a 30-year ‘retirement’ John was member of the Board of Trustees of Mohawk Community College, Director of Presbyterian Homes and Services and Preswick Glen, Trustee at Munson William Proctor Arts Institute, Trustee of New York State Historical Association in Cooperstown, Chairman at Commercial Travelers Mutual Insurance Company, Stanley Theater Restoration Committee Member, and Director at Partners Trust Group and Savings Bank of Utica. Other activities in which John participated include ten years as a member of the Board of Education at Holland Patent Central Schools, Commissioner with the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission, member of NYS Business Council, and member of Zoning Board of Appeals for Town of Trenton, Oneida County.

While the Navy and Stetson-Harza provided ample activity, John knew that family and home were essential to a great life. He and Margaret Tyler (Pegsy), daughter of Roger and Margaret Tyler, were married in Boston on St. Patrick’s Day 1951 while the USS Rochester was in dry dock at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in CA. The wedding trip was a drive back to Vallejo, CA, and soon south along the coast to Long Beach where the ship was temporarily home ported. That was the first of many travel adventures and many residences. While traveling and living in the US and foreign countries, John and Pegsy had three sons: John Jr., Andrew and James. A daughter, Martha, was born in Utica when the travelers returned to Barneveld. Pegsy was a great traveler and made each of the many houses, apartments and temporary living quarters real homes wherever the family was stationed. When the Navy days ended and a permanent dwelling was needed, she made the best of living in the Barneveld farmhouse as renovation proceeded, room by room, a project that took many years. It was, however, a great location and for John, the years of working with wonderful people and donating his time and skills to local organizations were times of great joy. The parents and children worked together and had lots of friends. Pegsy worked at Country Classics, boarded horses and raised golden retrievers. All enjoyed backpacking, canoeing and hiking together in the Adirondacks, and there was always time to ski at Snow Ridge or Woods Valley.

John is survived by John Jr. and Gwen Stetson, Andrew and Sue Stetson, James and Kathleen Stetson, and Martha and John Crossley, his grandchildren Blake, Daniel, Sarah, Amy, Carter, Vinna, Elena and Boyd, and his great grandchildren Wesley, Dillon, Kylee, Landon and Carson.

A memorial service is scheduled at the Bethel Baptist Church, in Prospect, NY, at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 23rd. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are with Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, New Hartford.

Memorial gifts may be made to The John B. Stetson Memorial Scholarship Award Fund, Holland Patent Central School District, 9601 Main Street, Holland Patent, NY 13354.

For online expressions of sympathy go to fwefh.com.