Elliot M. Sayward, 88, of West Lafayette, died at 12:25 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009, at Westminster Health Care. He was formerly of Levittown, Pa., Long Island, N.Y., and Beckett, Mass., and had lived in West Lafayette for the past 10 years.
Born June 1, 1921, in New York City, he was the son of the late Carl and Dorothy Myers Sayward. He served in the Army from March 13, 1942 to Dec. 4, 1945, and graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania.
On March 25, 1943, he married Mary Jane Stevens in Scarsdale, N.Y., and she survives.
Mr. Sayward was the education services manager for CitiBank in New York City, and retired in 1983 after 32 years.
He was a member of the Early American Industries Association and had been an officer, director and editor of their quarterly publication, “The Chronicle”; at his retirement he was given their J.D. Hatch Award. He created and was a member of the Early Trades and Crafts Society and the British-American Rhykenological Society (BARS); through BARS he created and published “Plane Talk.” He was a member of the Oyster Bay Historical Society and was a contributing editor to their quarterly publication, “The Freeholder.” He also authored several books, including “The Cooper and His Work,” which is in the Library of Congress.
He recently donated his vast research library to the Davistown Museum of Hulls Cove, Maine, which houses The Center for the Study of Early Tools; they renamed its library the Elliot Sayward Library.
He enjoyed collecting antique tools, and researching and writing about early American trades and tools.
Surviving with his wife are a son, Jonathan Sayward (wife: Barbara) of West Lafayette; and a sister, Fran York of Rangeley, Maine.
Also surviving is a granddaughter, Karen Sayward of West Lafayette.
Visitation will be 2 hours prior to a 5 p.m. service Saturday at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West, the Rev. Dr. Gary L. Reif officiating. Those wishing may contribute to the Light House for the Blind. Leave condolences at www.soller-baker.com
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