Leonard Spencer

07/23/2002

Leonard Rudd Spencer, 85, of High Street died yesterday at Providence Care Center in Lenox, where he had been a resident since 1999. He was a descendant of one of Becket's founders, Jonathan Rudd. Born in Becket on Feb. 25, 1917, son of Pomeroy Ashwell Spencer and Mary Anna Rudd Spencer, he was a 1934 graduate of Chester High School. He continued his education at Springfield Technical High School in 1935. In 1936, he entered the four-year apprentice program at GE in Pittsfield in the drafting department. He earned his degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1955. A draftsman, he worked at GE for 38 years, where he designed and built large transformer-testing equipment. He oversaw several major installations, including the GE plant in Hickory, N.C. He left GE when the transformer testing division was moved from Pittsfield. He then worked at Hill Engineering in Dalton, designing and building paper machines and mills in several locations. After his retirement in 1982, he worked as a consultant for a short time, managing investments and working for the Becket Athenaeum. During his early school years, he continued to help on his father's farm in Becket and built homemade tractors and farm machinery for local farmers. Mr. Spencer served as a trustee and vice president of trustees of the Becket Athenaeum. From 1964 to 1999, he served as treasurer of the Athenaeum. He also served a term on the Becket School Committee. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, farm work, repairing buildings and designing, creating and repairing machinery of all sorts. He leaves a son, Leonard H. Spencer of Cabot, Vt.; a daughter, Linda M. Brazeau of Dalton, and five grandchildren. Services will be held Thursday, July 25, at 1 at DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME, Dalton, with the Rev. Robert Withers, pastor of Becket Federated Church, officiating. Burial will follow in North Becket Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday from noon to 1, prior to the service, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Spencer's memory may be made to the Becket Athenaeum or to Providence Care Center of Lenox, both in care of the Dery-Foley Funeral Home, 890 East Main St., Dalton, MA 01226.

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