ALFRED COLVILLE VIEBRANZ

Alfred Colville Viebranz, writer, marketing executive, champion of St. Lawrence University, beloved father, grandfather, husband and friend, died in his sleep Friday February 18, 2005 after a long illness. He was 83.

Mr. Viebranz was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1921. After graduating from St. Lawrence University in 1942 with a major in Physics, and the Naval Academy in 1943, he was a submarine officer with the U.S. Naval Reserve during World War II. He was awarded one Bronze and two Silver Stars. He joined Sylvania/GTE in 1946 and remained with the corporation for all but six years until 1982 when he retired as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for the GTE Corporation. Subsequent to that, he was Assistant to the Director of the National Gallery of Art until 1987, when he began working for the Archives of the National Gallery, at the same time initiating and conducting an oral history program for the Gallery. He published editions of his own poetry and writings.

Mr. Viebranz served the Town of Mamaroneck, New York as Commissioner of Police from 1956-1967 and again from 1972-1974. He was a member of the Westchester County Parkway Police Board from 1968-1971. He was a charter member of the Youth Employment Service in Mamaroneck and Larchmont, New York; a former member of the Executive Committee of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Youth Council. Mr. Viebranz also served on the boards of directors of the Kohlberg Foundation and Williamstown Art Conservation Center, Inc.

Mr. Viebranz was an active supporter of his alma mater, St. Lawrence University. He was an Alumni Trustee from 1962-1968, was elected as a Term Trustee in 1967 and served as chairman of the board from 1978-1983. Elected as a Trustee Emeritus in 1991, he was also a member of the Alumni Executive Council 1951-1962 and president of the Alumni Association 1960-1962. In 1979, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University and gave the Commencement Address.

Mr. Viebranz is survived by his wife, Elaine Frailey Viebranz of Greenwich, CT; sons Scott Viebranz of Nashville, TN and Curt Viebranz of Chester, NJ; daughters Gayle Welch of North Andover, MA and Joan Lockwood of South Hamilton, MA and eleven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, Fountain Square, Larchmont, New York at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 24, 2005. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be sent to The Alfred C. Viebranz Endowment for Creative Writing, St. Lawrence University Development Office, Canton, New York 13617.

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