Spencer Willis Hitch

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Obituary: Spencer Willis Hitch
Air Force veteran, Darien Community Theater actor

By The Darien Times on November 15, 2014
Spencer Willis Hitch, age 92, died at home in Sarasota, Fla. on Monday, Nov. 10. Born July 2, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois, he graduated from Northwestern University and attended University of Chicago as a graduate student in international relations. Mr. Hitch served in the United States Air Force during World War II as a classification specialist. He spent many years living in New York City before marriage, and was a long-time resident of Darien. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Deirdre Cassedy Hitch; a daughter, Sarah Hitch Burdi and her husband Tom and their children, Sam and Lindsay; a son, Spencer Jordan Hitch and his wife Julie and their children, Emma, Charlie, Tyler and Lily; a daughter Kelin Hitch Rapp and her husband Steve and their children, Tom and Emma; a niece, Ann Branston; a nephew John Branston; and other wonderful family and friends. After leaving the Air Force he began his career in advertising with Swift International in Brazil and went on to become a vice president of international marketing and advertising at Avon Products until retiring in 1983. As an advertising and marketing executive, he travelled the world and helped establish markets for Avon products across the globe. After retiring from Avon, Mr. Hitch worked at the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce as a marketing and advertising consultant until 1987. Mr. Hitch was a lover of the arts, music and all types of culture. He was an avid reader and well-versed on even the most esoteric of subjects. Fluent in several languages, he had a passion for knowledge, learning and world cultures. He was involved with the Darien Community Theater as a volunteer and thespian. It was once commented that he "brought down the house" with his performance of Brush Up Your Shakespeare. He was an accomplished piano player and kept friends and family up many nights with his impromptu sing-alongs at the piano. Some of his fondest memories and stories were of his life in New York City during the heyday of 50's and 60's and being at the center of the art scene, his family said. His friendships throughout the city's artistic community provided him access to a wide variety of performances, museums, theaters, and opening events. He loved the city and all it had to offer, his family said. Memorial contributions may be directed to The Museum of Modern Art. Gifts can be sent to: The MoMa, Development Department, 11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019. Questions can be directed to annualfund@moma.org.

Spencer married Deirdre Cassedy, daughter of Gerald Jordan Cassedy and Eleanor Livingston Rowe, in Apr 1963 in Southpodt, CT.¹ (Deirdre Cassedy was born on 11 Dec 1936 in New York City, NY ¹.)