SAMUEL BRADFORD TINGLEY ’49


My father, Samuel Bradford Tingley, known as “Doc” to his Amherst friends, passed away peacefully on Jan. 20, 2009, in Providence, R.I., after a brief illness. Dad’s health had been in decline for several years.

Doc was born and raised in Providence, R.I. After graduating from Vermont Academy, he spent the next four years in England serving in the 8th Army Air Force as part of a crew flying secret intelligence missions on a B-17. 

After the war, Dad attended Amherst compliments of the G.I. Bill. He was a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity along with his brother, Nat ’50. At Amherst, he created strong friendships which he would maintain for the remainder of his life. Along the way, he was given the nickname “Doc,” the origin of which was never related to me despite numerous attempts on my part to wrestle the story out of another ’49er.    

After a short career in sales with DuPont and a stint teaching and coaching at Deerfield Academy, he moved to New York City to try his luck on Wall Street with Kidder Peabody.  He transferred to Albany, N.Y., to run the local Kidder office and met my mother, Kathryn (Kitty) Hillman.

Early in the marriage, Doc suffered a stroke which paralyzed the left side of his body for the remainder of his life. My parents ultimately settled in Barrington, R.I. Dad finished his professional career working in the investment advisory business and retired in 1988.

Doc returned to Amherst for every reunion up to and including his 50th in 1999. This would be the last time he returned to campus as health reasons made traveling difficult.  

Dad was especially proud of his connection to Amherst, and though he was not in attendance at his 60th this spring, he was in spirit!

—Samuel B. Tingley Jr. ’84