Ward Melville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ward Melville
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| Born |
John Ward Melville
January 5, 1887 |
| Died | June 5, 1977 (aged 90) Manhattan, New York City
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| Alma mater | Columbia University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) |
Dorothy Bigelow
(m. 1909; |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Frank Melville Jr. Jennie Florence MacConnell |
John Ward Melville (born January 5, 1887 – died June 5, 1977) was an American businessman and a very generous person. He was active in the "Three Villages" area on Long Island, New York. He gave a lot of land and money to start Stony Brook University in 1957. This university has grown into a major research center. He also played a big part in building the company now known as CVS Health.
Early Life
Ward Melville was born in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were Frank Melville Jr. and Jennie Florence MacConnell Melville.
He went to college at Columbia University. While there, he was involved with the student newspaper, the Columbia Daily Spectator. He was also part of the Philolexian Society, a group focused on debate and literature.
His Work
After finishing college in 1909, Melville started working at his father's shoe company, Melville Corporation. When the United States joined World War I, the company made many shoes for the U.S. Army soldiers.
After the war, Melville kept working for the company. He took charge of it in 1922. At that time, he created the popular Thom McAn shoe brand. He became the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company.
Helping Others and His Community
Melville lived in the Stony Brook area on Long Island. He owned a lot of land there. He was a member of the school board in Setauket. He even gave the land for the high school there.
Melville was very active in helping his community. He focused on the "Three Village" area, which includes Stony Brook, Setauket, and Old Field. He helped fix up and save old buildings in the area. He wanted Stony Brook to look like a classic New England village. Because of his efforts, the Stony Brook Village Center was finished in 1941. He also supported protecting natural places, like West Meadow Beach.
Education was another important interest for him. He gave land for the high school in Setauket, which was later named after him. His biggest gift was donating 400 acres of land and money to New York state. This helped create what is now Stony Brook University. The university started in 1957. Its main campus opened in 1962. It became a big public research university, especially in medicine and science.
His Family Life
In 1909, Ward Melville married Dorothy Bigelow. In 1924, the Melvilles bought a property in Old Field on Long Island. They made their home much bigger. It was originally a small house built by Alexander Hamilton Jr., a grandson of the first Treasury Secretary. The Melvilles called their large home "Wide Water."
Ward and Dorothy had four children: two sons named Frank and David, and two daughters.
- One daughter was Margaret Melville (1919–2000). She helped start the American Driving Society, which is about horse driving sports.
- Another daughter was Ruth Melville (around 1920–1995). She was also a generous person who helped others.
Ward Melville passed away in 1977. He is buried in Setauket at the Caroline Church and Cemetery.
What He Left Behind
Many places and organizations are named after Ward Melville:
- The local high school, Ward Melville High School in Setauket, is named for him.
- The main library at Stony Brook University is named for his father, the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library.
- The Ward Melville Social and Behavioral Sciences building at Stony Brook University also honors him.
