RICHARD WHEATLAND II BOSTON – Richard Wheatland II, 85, died peacefully June 26, 2009, at his home. Born in Boston, he was the son of Stephen and Dorothy Parker Wheatland of Sorrento. He is the father of Sarah W. Fisher; father-in-law of David Fisher; brother of Sarah W. Richards, Mary W. Schley and Alice N. Wellman; brother-in-law of Bradford S. Wellman and Miss Marguerite de H. McAdoo; and grandfather of Thea and Otto Fisher. He was married in 1954 to Cynthia McAdoo, who predeceased him in December 2008. He served in the Navy on the USS Harry S. Bauer in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from Harvard in 1945 and received his juris doctor from Columbia University in 1949. He served in Paris under the Marshall Plan 1950-1953. He was then vice president of New York Airways, a pioneering helicopter company in New York, 1953-1968. He was president then chairman of Acadia Management Co., Boston. He had many philanthropic interests, none of which he valued more than Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass., of which his ancestor Richard Wheatland was a founding member in 1799. He worked tirelessly for the museum for many years, serving as chairman of the board for nine years and raising millions of dollars. Under his leadership the Peabody Museum and Essex Institute were merged in 1992. He was also an active board member of the Museum Trustee Association; Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport; Friends of the Public Garden, Boston; Boston Natural Areas Fund, Boston; and Beacon Hill Civic Association, Boston. He was a member of Tavern Club and the Club of Odd Volumes, amongst others. He was a devoted jogger, running races into his seventh decade and he adored skiing, sailing and traveling. A memorial service will be held 5 p.m. Aug. 8 at Church of the Redeemer, Sorrento. A reception will be after. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held in Boston at a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass.
RICHARD WHEATLAND II
