Howard J. Stagg 3rd Was Veteran of World War II

Howard J. Stagg 3rd died at home in Naples, Fla., with his wife and four children present on Sept. 16.

He was born in Syracuse, N.Y., on Oct. 4, 1915, the son of Howard J. Stagg Jr. and Aleda Sedgwick. Mr. Stagg attended the University of Maine and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He graduated in 1937. That same year, Mr. Stagg was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and married his classmate, Carolyn M. Brown, who died in 1961. They had four children.

Mr. Stagg was a veteran of World War II and served with the Fourth Armored Tank Division. He was assigned to the staff of Admiral Nimitz for the planning of the invasion of Japan, but contracted polio. He eventually completed rehabilitation and walked normally again and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

He attended the University of Pennsylvania and received an MBA degree from the Wharton Business School in 1947 and worked for Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in Boston. In 1980 he received the prestigious Charter Life Underwriter designation and recognition as highest producer for career agents.

Mr. Stagg was an avid sailing yachtsman and member of the Skaneateles Yacht Club, N.Y.; the Beverly Yacht Club and the Naples Yacht Club. Also, he was a member of the Weston Golf Club, the Edgartown Yacht Club and the Country Club of Naples.

He was a 32nd-degree member of Wellesley Lodge, A.F.&A.M., and was also a Shriner. Rotary International recognized him as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Wellesley Hills for more than 50 years.

Mr. Stagg is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Julia Beard McGowan Stagg; four children, Howard J. Stagg 4th of Sacramento, Calif.; Peter Stagg (Marilyn) of Chatham; Jeffrey Stagg of Roseville, Calif., and Deborah Rothfuss (Dietolf) of Jacksonville, Ill; and one step-child, Mary Ellen McGowan of Worcester. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by his brother, Jay Stagg, of Sand Cay, Fla., and a sister, Mary Aleda Kresge, of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Skaneateles, N.Y.

A memorial service will be held Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. at The Carlisle, 6925 Carlisle Ct. in Naples. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to either the Shriner's Hospitals Foundation, 51 Blossom street, Boston, MA 02114 or to the University of Maine Foundation, Orono, ME 04469.