Rash's Surname Index
Notes for William Thacher LONGSTRETH
William Thacher Longstreth, a longtime city councilman, died Friday. He was 82.
Mr. Longstreth's image as a wisecracking, bow-tied blue blood changed in his later years amid failing health and a court battle pitting his family against his fiance.
He died of a pulmonary embolism at a Florida hospital, according to an aide. He had Parkinson's disease and experienced bouts of dementia.
An aristocratic Republican in a largely blue-collar Democratic city, Mr. Longstreth was first elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1969 but forged alliances across the aisle with Democratic governors, mayors and business leaders.
In his 1990 memoir, "Main Line WASP," he wrote: "Because I've never been afraid or ashamed of losing or of appearing ridiculous, I've taken risks and enjoyed experiences that 'successful people' would never try, for fear of failure."
Born in 1920 to a Quaker family in suburban Philadelphia, Mr. Longstreth was a Princeton All-American football player, served in the Navy during World War II and sold advertising for Life magazine afterward.
He filed for divorce in 2001 and became engaged to Melanie Hopkins, his chief of staff since 1996. His four children and Hopkins fought for custody of Mr. Longstreth after he was hospitalized in Florida. His sons were awarded custody.
Copyright (c) 2003, Chicago Tribune Company. All rights reserved.
LONGSTRETH WILLIAM THACHER, age 83, on April 11, 2003, of Phila. PA; survived by wife Anne Claghorn Longstreth, and 4 children Anne Delay of Omaha NE, Peter Longstreth, Ellen Goodwin of Philadelphia PA, and William Longstreth of Seattle WA; and brother Frank of Hudson OH; also survived by 12 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was a longtime public servant for the City of Philadelphia, both as President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce for 19 years; and a member of the Philadelphia City Council for 21 years (6 terms). Private family ceremony and a public Memorial Service to be scheduled. Contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1 Reed St.- Suite 200, Phila. PA 19147; and the American Parkinson Disease Assoc. Inc., 6700 Eastwood St., Phila. PA 19149.
Copyright (c) 2003 The Philadelphia Inquirer
| HOME | EMAIL | SURNAMES |
Return to The Pennocks of Primitive Hall website.
The information in this database may contain errors. If you find any questionable data, or if you have something to add my findings, please feel free to e-mail me by clicking on the "E-MAIL" link above. Thank you!
Page built by Gedpage Version 2.21 ©2009 on 07 July 2020