John Spofford Morgan

John Spofford Morgan died peacefully on April 28 at the age of 97 after two very good years of aging in place at Geer Village.

He was born on November 13, 1917 in New York City. He grew up dividing his time between there and Norfolk. Each was dear to him throughout his life. He used to say that he was equally delighted when he arrived at his apartment on East 10th Street as he was to arrive at Spofford Pond in Norfolk. He kept to his every two-week schedule through snowstorms, hurricanes… even September 11 did not throw him off his “getting-to Norfolk” schedule.

His love for music, particularly opera and Wagner, no doubt rose from his years living in Germany before the war (he was on a Navy destroyer in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941), continued with his study at Harvard and was fully realized by his involvement in the rich world of music in New York. He devoted many years serving on the board of the InterSchool Orchestras of New York. He received a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University in 1947.

John was the third generation to spend time in Norfolk. His grandparents, Ellen and Charles Spofford, first came to Norfolk to find a healthy environment for their daughter, Barbara Spofford Morgan (John’s mother). Barbara and her husband, Shepard Morgan, lived on Mountain Road in the house currently owned by Kathy and Curtis Robb, who have been very good friends to John.

In the late 1960’s, John built a house on what began as a beaver pond on land originally owned by his maternal grandparents. Spofford Pond, and the woods surrounding it, will continue to be a favorite family gathering place.

In November 2011, John married his life partner, Louis Halsey, who died in October of 2014. The couple will be buried side by side in Norfolk Center Cemetery.

John is survived by three nieces, Laura Laylin Nichols, Barbara Smyth Edgar and Deborah Smyth Smith. He is also survived by six great nieces and nephews and seven great great nieces and nephews.

There will be a service of remembrance on Saturday, June 13 at 11 a.m. at Church of Christ in Norfolk.