RAYMOND GANO GUERNSEY
1878 - 1959
With the death of Raymond Gano Guernsey on May 19,
1959, a name long associated with the affairs of
Vessar College takes an honored place in the annals
of this institution. Mr. Guernsey served Vassar as
a member of the Board of Trustees from 1923 to l940.
The esteem in which he was held by his colleagues
on the Board is sheen by the many duties they assigned
to him. In 1925 he was appointed legal counsel to
the College, and he continued in that capacity until
the time of his death. In 1928 he was made Treasurer
of the College; he filled that responsible position
for 12 years. He become a menber of the Executive
Committee in 1925 end a member of the Committee on
Investments and Finance in 1928. In addition he
served shorter terms on the Committee on Grounds, the
Committee on Budget, the Committee on Physical Educa-
tion, the Committee on music end Musical Equipment,
the Committee on Buildings, end the Sub-Committee on
Expenditures.
Upon his retirement in l9hO President HacCracken said:
"Our June meeting marks the termination of one of the
most valued terms as trustee in the recent history of
Vssssr College. Hr. Raymond G. Guernsey . . . is a
friend of innumerable students and of all the faculty,
and with his mother and sister will always remain our
most honored guest. Whether umpiring a faculty-student
baseball game or wrestling over a knotty legal problem
involving the relations of the college, Raymond
Guernsey is always the self-forgetful end devoted friend
of Vassar."
Raymond Guernsey was a native of Poughkeepsie, the son
of Stephen and Marianne Hicks Guernsey. He was educated
in local schools and at Yale, end was graduated from the
New York Law School in 1905. After 5 years in New York
he came home to join his father in the practice of law,
and he continued his own practice until the time of his
death. Mr. Guernsey served his church and his community
es generously as he served Vassar, in a list of offices
too long to enumerate here. The many tributes paid him
by his fellow citizens are not down in the local press.
With this minute the Trustees of Vassar College record
their tribute to an honored friend and benefactor of
the College.
Minutes of Executive Committee
May 25; 1959