Edward Stafford St.John

Edward was born on January 9, 1908 and died on April 12, 1984. His father was Edward Michael St.John and his mother was Mary Agnes "Mamie" Cotton. He was raised in the Boston area until his father died during the influenza epidemic of 1918. After the death of his father, he and his mother went to live with her brother George Cotton in NY. Mr. Cotton's wife, Margaret, was also a victim of the influenza epidemic, so the brother and sister combined households.

Edward went to work before finishing high school, working for NYC in the department which repaired the streets. His uncle George Cotton helped him get the job and added a year to Edward's age so he could start work at 15 years old. He received an equivalency diploma from the state of NY and applied to St.John's Law School, evening session, and was accepted. The school had assumed he was 18, the minimum age but he was, in fact, still 17. Edward was part of the first evening session graduating class. He was admitted to the bar in 1931, joining the firm of Laughlin, Gerard, Bowers, and Halpin.

He continued the partnership with Halpin, starting a new partnership, Halpin, Keogh and St.John. The Keogh was Eugene J. Keogh, the congressman from Brooklyn who was known for his legislation creating retirement plans for self employed individuals, which became known as Keogh Plans. Their offices were on the 50th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where the NBC studios are. Edward's office faced north with a magnificent view of Central Park, and a west view over the Hudson River. Later, in a semi-retirement, Edward created a firm with Tom Daugherty, a long time junior partner, and opened offices in Port Washington, close to home and close to North Hempstead CC.

Edward was a strapping athelete as a young man. He rowed with the New York Athletic Club and was part of a crew which was considered among the best in the country. His crew struck a rock and lost a heat in Olympic trials. Though they later, in a new skull, posted a faster time than the winner of the heat, it was decided that only the actual winners of the heats could continue in the trails. He was also recruited by Fordham University's football team in 1931, back when Fordham was a national football power, in the days of Vince Lombardi and the seven blocks of granite. However, he had already completed law school and was ready to marry Maybelle, so he did not pursue this option.

The passion of Edward's life was ... golf. So many aspects of golf suited him to the ground; he loved the game, he loved the etiquette, and he loved the commraderie. As a young man he played the NY public courses with his friends, especially friends from the Queensboro Lodge of the Elks club, of which he was a Past Exalted Ruler.

But as means became available, he joined several clubs, many of his Elk's club "pigeons" joining with him. At one time, in the late 1950s, he was a member of Ridgewood CC in Danbury, CT, where his family summered (Redding Ridge, CT), North Hills CC in Douglaston, NYC (he was president during the club's move to Manhasset, LI, working on the course design with Robert Trent Jones), and North Hempstead CC in Port Washington. A great deal of time was spent on the course and in the card room, playing gin rummy with his friends.

Edward was an extremely intelligent man who believed in working hard and being successful. He believed in honor, ethics and morals. He had the respect and love many, and was recognized as a leader. He meant to be a springboard for his children ... (a little joke for the "brothers").

On April 18, 1931 he married Maybelle Katheine Jewhurst and went off on a honeymoon to Niagra Falls, stopping in Auburn so say hello to the "in-laws", the Jewhursts, along the way. He and Maybelle had seven childen.

Other photographs with Edward:

• Edward, in the height of fashion, with tunic and Buster Brown hat, not wearing them, thank goodness.
• Edward at age 3.
• With a peddlecar in May 1911.
• "Hospital Tent" with Edward on the far right, William Larkin, Phillip Coleman, and Catherine Edmonds.
• Edward with Pal.