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Clarence Edward Seipel, Jr. '34

Aug. 26, 1913-Jul. 25, 1999

Clarence Edward Seipel, Jr. ’34, a U.S. Army officer later employed for 27 years by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, was born on August 26, 1913, in Newburgh, NY. The younger son of Clarence E., a sales representative, and Isabel Donahey Seipel, he came to Hamilton in 1930 from Newburgh Free Academy, where he had been valedictorian of his class. He joined the local fraternity Chi Beta Sigma. After two and a half years on the Hill, Clarence Seipel, also known as “Seip,” left to enlist in the New York State National Guard and await an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He entered the Academy in 1934.

Awarded his B.S. degree and an officer’s commission in 1939, Lt. Seipel was wed on July 10 of that year to Elizabeth D. Salese in West Point’s Cadet Chapel. He began his military service on the eve of World War II and became a battery commander in the newly activated 20th Field Artillery. He later served as commanding officer of the 84th Division Special Artillery Battalion in Texas (1944) and the 121st Field Artillery Battalion in the Philippines and Japan (1945). He attained the gold leaf of a lieutenant colonel before reverting to his permanent rank of first lieutenant upon his release from active duty in 1948. (He was later advanced on the Army’s retired list to major.)

That year, Clarence Seipel began his long employment with Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, CT, as a conference leader in its personnel training department. Promoted to group supervisor of training, he transferred in 1959 to the company’s engineering department as a technical writer and editor. He continued to prepare engineering proposals until his retirement from Pratt & Whitney (then a division of United Technologies Corp.) in 1975.

Clarence Seipel, a longtime resident of Manchester and past president of the West Point Society of Connecticut, served on the Republican town committee and as secretary of the Friends of the Manchester Library. He also participated in local amateur theatrical productions and played piano for neighborhood musical evenings. His other pastimes including duckpin bowling and weekly square dancing with his wife.

In 1991, the Seipels moved from Manchester to Rochester, NY, where their son was residing. Clarence E. Seipel died at his home in Rochester on July 25, 1999, according to verification recently obtained by the College. In addition to his wife of 60 years, he is survived by his son, Don A. Seipel ’66, and two granddaughters.

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Note: Memorial biographies published prior to 2004 will not appear on this list.



Necrology Writer and Contact:
Christopher Wilkinson '68
Email: Chris.Wilkinson@mail.wvu.edu

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