Millbrook mourns loss of Oakleigh B. Thorne

MILLBROOK — Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?” 

Well, if the name is Thorne, and one is in Millbrook, the answer is, “a lot.” It includes the large, historical yellow brick building at the top of Franklin Avenue, a gift from the Thorne family in 1895 to the village of Millbrook, to be used for educational purposes — the reason the village became incorporated. The Thorne Building was used as a school through the late 1960s. Now, after years of being vacant, the building is being converted to the Thorne Building Community Center.

At the base of Franklin Avenue is the magnificent Tribute Garden. Created in 1943 by Thorne’s great grandparents, it’s a treasure trove of flora, with a waterfall, a gazebo, a playground and a memorial to local veterans who fought in World Wars I and II. A gift to the community along with the Millbrook Tribute Garden Fund, which expanded under Thorne’s leadership, it continues to fund local educational and charitable projects today.

Thorne passed away at his Millbrook home, Thorndale, on Oct. 7, where he had lived since 1980. He was 88 years old. He was loved by many. 

Washington town Supervisor Gary Ciferri remarked, “He was probably one of the kindest, friendliest people you’d ever meet. He did so much for the town of Washington through the Tribute Garden. He was a real gentleman, and had a dry sense of humor. He always had time to talk to anyone from any walk of life. He was unique, and he will be missed.”

In business he was known for his work with the Thorne family holdings, CT Corporation in NYC, which merged with Commercial Clearing House in 1976. He remained chairman of CCH until 1996. He held positions on many boards including the Dutchess Land Conservancy, Dutchess Day School, Millbrook School, Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies and Nine Partners Cemetery.

He belonged to many local clubs including The Mashomack Fish and Game Preserve Club, the Tamarack Preserve Club and the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club. Thorne was an avid beagler, a member of the Sandanona Harehounds, the Millbrook Hunt Club and he helped co-found the Millbrook Polo Club (now the Mashomack Polo Club).

He was not only a sportsman and philanthropist, but also a horse breeder. He established Eaton-Thorne, a thoroughbred breeding operation, with the well-known bloodstock agent Lee Eaton in 1980, producing a number of champions. 

His good friend, Peter Devers, shared some memories of Thorne through social media and with The Millerton News. Most of Devers’ memories are about the sporting life and Thorne’s kindness to him.

“Oakleigh was the first adult that told me, a young kid, to call him by his first name. In my youth we children were always taught to address our elders with the title ‘Mr.’ or ‘Mrs.’ -— but Oakleigh was just Oakleigh. It was quite an honor to be given this privilege. On a road trip home from the beagle field trials at Aldie when we did a quick pit stop at a McDonald’s south of Harrisburg, Oakleigh was strangely silent while munching his burger. He then said, ‘You know, this is the first McDonald’s hamburger I’ve ever had.’  Welcome to America, at age 45, Oakleigh B. Thorne… He was one of a kind.”

Thorne came from a prominent family. His father was a descendant of an old New York family that made its money in the leather and publishing businesses; his mother was a descendant of the distinguished Palmer family of Chicago. He served in the Navy for two years, graduated from Harvard, was married to his second wife, Felicitas, for more than 50 years and they raised their two children, Eliza and Jonathan, together. He had two sons, Oakleigh IV and Henry, with his first wife, Caroline. 

Devers also remembers his friend’s sense of fun and kindness.

“As a huntsman, Oakleigh was trusted by his hounds,” he recalled. “They knew he was one with them and would do his best for them… He was quick to praise them and rarely berated them angrily when at fault. Oakleigh wanted the hunting experience to be fun for all: himself, the field and the hounds, too.”

The photo that originally appeared here and in the Oct. 22 edition of The Millerton News identified as the late Millbrook philanthropist Oakleigh Thorne III was actually a photo of Oakleigh Thorne IV. The photo was also incorrectly attributed to the Allen Funeral Home when it was submitted by Peter Barry Devers. We regret the errors.