Notable Residents
There are many notable people who are interred or are descended from plot owners.
1) John Divine Jones Sec. 4
Founded the Memorial Cemetery in 1862. His estate is now the site of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Many insurance companies would not insure the US Navy ships because they feared heavy losses. John Divine Jones then insured the USN ships during the Civil War.
2) Benjamin Moore Sec. 3 Plot 13
Lawyer. Estate in East Norwich called Chelsea which was designed by Architect William Delano. Grandson of Clement Moore author of "Twas the night before Christmas". Descendent of Rev. Moore whose farm in Lower Manhattan, Chelsea is the namesake for the NYC district.
3) Col. Henry Stimson Sec. 3 Plot 14
Secretary of State under FDR. Last Secretary of War during World War II before it was changed to the Dept. of Defense.
4) Otto Kahn Sec. 3 Plot 18
Jewish banker and Philanthropist. When the Metropolitan Opera was going bankrupt, he set up a foundation that saved the opera house and to this day still funds the Met. Commissioned William Delano to build his residence Oheka Castle. Was considered the ablest reorganizer of railroads on the US.
5) Alfred P. Sloan Jr. Sec. 1 Plot 12
CEO, President and Chairman of General Motors from 1920's through 1950's. He introduced new styles annually marketed to low, middle and high-end consumer. Founded Sloan Kettering Hospital with Charles Kettering, VP of GM.
6) William Delano Sec. 2 Plot 12
Architect. Designed WW II Memorial in France. Also designed Oheka Castle and the Chelsea Estate for Benjamin Moore among many others.
7) Henry & Robert DeForest Sec.1
Descendants of Isaac DeForest who worked for the West Indies Co. Had one of the first contracts for a house to be built in New Amsterdam. They hired the Olmsted Brothers to landscape 10 acres back to Memorial Cemetery.
8) Mortimer L. Schiff Sec. 8 Plot 8
Jewish American Banker, Philanthropist and notable Boy Scout leader.
9) William Paley Sec.8 Plot 9
Chief Executive who built CBS from a small network into one of the leaders of radio and TV. Philanthropist.
Chemist. Winner of the Nobel Price won for physiology of Medicine in 1969.
11) David Houston Sec. 11
Statesman. Secretary of Agriculture 1913-1920 and Secretary of Treasury under President Wilson.
12) Nicholas Rey Sec.11 Block 3 Plot 16
US Ambassador to Poland in the Clinton Administration.
13) John Lindsay Sec. 11 Block 2 Plot 16
Politician. Mayor of New York City 1966-1973.
14) George B. Courteylou Sec. 11
President McKinley's Secretary, President R. Roosevelt's Secretary of the Treasury, Postmaster General and Secretary of Commerce and Labor.
15) Arthur G. Dove Sec. 9
Seminal abstract painter. Studied in Paris with other experimental artists. His second wife was artiste, Helen Torr.
16) Mai (Mary) Rogers Coe Coe Mausoleum
Her father, Henry Rogers operated the Wamsutta Oil Refinery. He then worked with Charles Pratt and developed a process for separating naptha from crude oil for which he received a patent. JD Rockefeller and Standard Oil acquired them. In 1913, the acquired the Planting Field property and began planting and landscaping the estate. She imported many species of trees shrubs and flowers. 1949 the 353-acre estate was deeded to the State of NY and became "Planting Fields Arboretum State Park".
Professional dancer and instructor to the "stars" and high society. Appeared on Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas shows where he would teach the Twist, Mambo, Cha Cha, Watsui, and the Frug with his GOGO girls.
18. Mary Gardiner Jones Livingston short plot Sec. 8 Block B
Nationally recognized feminist and consumer advocate. Died in 12/23/09. Pres. Johnson appointed her to the Federal Trade Commission. She was a trustee of Wellesley college and Colgate U. Last 15 years, dedicated to aged, homeless and inner-city children mental health services and issues.
19. William John Matheson Sec. 3
Founded Allied Chemical and Dye Corp. He owned 2/3's of Key Biscayne now occupied by Miami-Dade County's Crandon Park.
20. Walter Burr Jennings Sec. 1 Plot 20
Director of Standard Oil. His father, Oliver Burr Jennings was an original stock holder in Standard Oil.
21. Arthur Dean Sec.8 Block D
1899-1987. NY Lawyer and Diplomat. Chairman and Sr. Partner of Sullivan and Cromwell. Worked closely with JF Dulles as Chief negotiator at Panmunjom and helped the Truce and Cease Fire of the Korean War. Negotiated the nuclear test ban treaty.
22. Harold A. Abramson Sec. 8 Block B
1899-1980. US Allergist who played a significant role in the CIA's program to investigate military application of LSD.
23. Sir Thomas Ashley Spark Sec. 1 Plot 14
US resident director of the Cunard Line.
24. John K. Colgate Sec. 8 Block A
President of Colgate.
25. Robert Koenig Sec.8 Block A plot 281
President of Cerro Corp. previously Cerrowire.
26. Harold Irving Pratt Sec. 8 Block B Plot 163,4,5
Died 1976. Son of H. Irving Pratt who owned "Welwyn Manor" which is now the Welwyn Preserve. Presently housing the Nassau Cty. Holocaust Museum. Founder of Pratt Institute in NY and Dir. of Standard Oil.
