Sidney Harvey Phillips Morse

 

sidneySidney Harvey Phillips Morse passed away peacefully in the early morning of October 19th.  She was surrounded by devoted family members at her home in Darien, Connecticut.  Sidney was 89.

 

Sidney was born in Baltimore, Maryland on June 18th, 1925 and grew up in nearby Catonsville.  She graduated from the Roland Park Country School, where she maintained relationships throughout her adult life.  Following Roland Park Country School, Sidney received professional secretarial training and later assisted the Chief of OB/Gyn at the New York Hospital on ManhattanÕs Upper East Side.

 

Sidney met her husband-to-be, Edmond (Ted) Northrop Morse, in 1944 just prior to his tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, which included serving as a Marine Scout during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the South Pacific.  They were married in Baltimore on June 5th, 1948 and initially settled in New York City, where Ted began a lifelong career in financial research and capital management.

 

In 1951, Sidney and Ted moved to Darien to raise their family near friends.  Sidney became a full-time wife and mother, one of her greatest gifts and for which she will always be remembered with loving admiration and gratitude by her entire family.  Throughout her life, Sidney was cherished for her unique qualities of being nurturing, compassionate, effervescent, fun-loving, inventive, smart and determined.

 

Sidney loved gardening, spending time with her family, entertaining, creating and maintaining country homes, going to the symphony, attending lectures, organizing bridge club get-togethers, and sewing.  She was an excellent coordinator of events and a lover of learning, embracing new projects of all kinds with enthusiasm.

Sidney was an active member of the Garden Club of Darien, the Lockwood-Matthews Mansion Museum, the Darien Community Association, and the Bank of Darien.  Along with her family, she enjoyed the Tokeneke and Wee Burn Country Clubs as well as spending summers at the Morse family cottage on Chebeague Island, Maine.  She also loved Peru, Vermont, where she oversaw the renovation of several 19th century country houses.

Sidney is survived by Edmond (Ted) Morse, her beloved husband of 66 years, as well as her five children Edmond H. (Barbara), David F. (Elaine), Judith B., Anne S. (Scott), and John B.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Edmond R., Christopher B. and Benjamin S.

 

Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Saint LukeÕs Episcopal Church in Darien, Connecticut at 2 pm on Friday, November 7th.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Roland Park Country School at 5204 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21210.