Pearson Monroe Spaght

SPAGHT, Pearson Monroe

Peary Spaght, 78, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2023, with family at his home in Southport, CT of cancer. Peary was born to Monroe and Elizabeth Spaght in Hillsborough, California. After graduating from Hackley School in Tarrytown, New York in 1962, he went on to earn a BS, an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and an MBA from Stanford University. While at Stanford, he met his future wife, Patti. They married in 1969. In 1972, he joined the Boston Consulting Group where he worked for 10 years. After joining a client as a Vice-President in 1982 in Connecticut, he returned to management consulting in 1986. He joined fellow BCG alum John Fletcher at his firm which became Fletcher Spaght Inc., now celebrating its 40th year of operation in Boston. As its President, he continued well into his 70’s connecting with clients, serving on boards, and mentoring colleagues. Fletcher Spaght Ventures grew out of the collaboration. Peary’s business friends continue to comment on his intelligence, curiosity, wit, and thought-provoking insights.

Peary had a lifelong passion for music. Singing in the Hackley Octet as a senior gave him the experience as a freshman to co-found with two friends the first a cappella singing group at Stanford, the Mendicants. They are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. This tradition has grown into ten groups currently on campus. He continued to be associated with the Mendicants, serving until recently as the Chairman of the Hank Adams Fund which helps support the group and a cappella music at Stanford. Over the years Peary has exercised his musical talents, singing in the Southport Congregational Church choir for almost 40 years, and composing inspirational choral works for them. He could sit at a piano for hours lost in improvisation. In addition to his musical roles at SCC, Peary also led two capital campaigns, chaired the Board of Trustees, and introduced a legacy society.

Another special interest for Peary was fine food and wine, especially Burgundy. A member of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin for over 40 years, he was the recent Grand Senechal of the Massachusetts chapter where he also introduced a singing group, the cadet de Bourgogne. His mentoring extended to teaching a Burgundy wine seminar to Harvard seniors for 29 years. He also enjoyed Bordeaux as a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. France became a favorite destination. He and Patti were avid travelers with Peary having set foot on all seven continents. From Antarctica to Svalbard in the Artic Circle, Europe, the Near and Far East, Africa, and the Americas, they both enjoyed meeting people, exploring cultures, and capturing memories, first on film and then digitally. Peary became enamored with the iPhone’s excellent camera and enthusiastically shared its capabilities by teaching workshops to others. Other activities included a fascination with art glass which led to his taking workshops in glassblowing and cold glass working. He loved a good mathematical puzzle. He relished the challenge of earning his pilot’s license and was an avid windsurfer, skier, and scuba diver. He also enjoyed ballroom dancing, including entering gold level competitions. Given his many accomplishments and passion for life, many friends have called him a true Renaissance man.

Peary is survived by Patti, his wife of 53 years, son Kendall and wife Holly Tang, daughter Devon Lucas and husband Matt, sister Sarah Brown and husband Win, and brother David Spaght. Services were held at Southport Congregational Church on Saturday, March 11. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Ministry of Music Fund, Southport Congregational Church, PO Box 366, Southport CT 06890 or online at Southportucc.org.