Thurston Greene, aged 101, of Millbrook, NY died on Nantucket Island, MA July 31, 2009. He was the last surviving member of the special prosecution team put together in 1935 by Thomas E. Dewey (later governor of NY) and was the first lawyer hired by Dewey to join a staff that became famous for bringing down corrupt officials and mobsters (including “Lucky” Luciano).

Mr. Greene was a member of the Army Air Force during World War II.  He authored The Language of the Constitution, with foreword by Justice Warren E. Burger, in 1991.  He is a former Senior Warden of St. George’s Episcopal Church in New York City and long-time member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Millbrook, NY.

Thurston Greene graduated from Williams College and Harvard Law School and is pre-deceased by wives Eileen Booker Fitzhugh and Marta Norris Greene and his son Jonathan Greene.  He is survived by daughters Marilyn Greene Rork, and Eileen Greene.  He is also survived by three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

On Useppa we knew and loved a courtly gentleman. Striking balls on the croquet lawn, enjoying a sail off the beach, holding court on the Collier patio, Thurston did it all with polished flair. He knew how to pause mid sentence waiting for the perfect word. Not just an approximation but an absolute definition of thought was required for civilized conversation.

In his younger days, Thurston was Master of the Hounds in Millbrook, New York. He would have cut a dashing figure going over a jump in the fall sunshine, his red coat and horse against the colors of fall foliage. He was a member of New York City’s University Club where the silence of another age can still be heard.

Thurston and Marta came to Useppa nineteen years ago. Marta was as elegant as Thurston was distinguished. In her youth Marta underlined a point flourishing a long cigarette holder. On Useppa her trademark was osprey feathers at a jaunty angle in her hat. Thurston with his gallant manners and white moustache first ambled and then shuffled with dignity along the Pink Path. He played tennis well into his eighties and then gave it up for croquet.

One of Bob Sumwalt’s fondest memories is teaching Thurston the game and watching his star pupil play to a ten handicap winning the Useppa Croquet Club’s Second Flight Championship in 2002.

To know Thurston was a privilege. To be his friend was an honor.