Ward Melville
| Ward Melville | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
John Ward Melville January 5, 1887 |
| Died | June 5, 1977 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Businessman, Philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Bigelow |
John Ward Melville (January 5, 1887 - June 5, 1977) was an American philanthropist and businessman active in the "Three Villages" in western Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. He donated 400 acres of land and money to establish the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1957, which has developed as a major public research institution.
He was born to Frank Melville, Jr. and his wife, Jennie. Ward Melville attended college at Columbia University, where he was active in the Columbia Daily Spectator and the Philolexian Society.
After joining his father in his company, in 1909 Melville married Dorothy Bigelow.
Following graduation in 1909, Melville joined his father's shoe company, Melville Corporation. Upon the United States' entrance into World War I, Melville became a soldier of the US Army.
After the war, Melville continued to work in his father's company, eventually taking control of it in 1922. At the time, he created the Thom McAn shoe line, which became popular. He was CEO of the corporation.
Melville settled in the Stony Brook area in western Suffolk County on Long Island, where he owned much land. He served as a member of the school board in Setauket, where he donated the land for the high school. From 1948 to 1949 he was the 66th President of the Saint Andrew's Society of the State of New York.
Melville was very active in philanthropic works around the "Three Village" area (Stony Brook, Setauket, and Old Field) and the surrounding towns. He supported the restoration and preservation of historic buildings in the area to encourage his vision of a New England village. Stony Brook was organized around a town green. He also supported conservation of natural areas, including the West Meadow Beach.
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