July 5, 2020
It is with sadness that we share the passing of Trustee Emeritus and MBL Society Emeritus Member Prosser Gifford, who died July 5, 2020 at the age of 91. The MBL flag will be lowered in his memory.
Mr. Gifford was a member of the MBL Board of Trustees from 1974 to 1990 and served as Chairman of the Board from 1977 to 1990. He was also a member of the MBL Society and the MBL Council. Mr. Gifford spent more than 30 years in higher education administration at Amherst College, Swarthmore College, and Yale University. In addition he held leadership roles in Washington, DC serving as Deputy Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and Director of Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress.
In more recent years Mr. Gifford was an active member of the MBL Falmouth Forum committee wherein he generously reached back to connections from his past life to bring eminent speakers to the MBL to engage and educate the local community.
Mr. Gifford was predeceased by Deedee, his wife of 56 years, in 2010. He leaves three daughters, Barbara Gifford and her husband, Bill Shimer, Paula Gifford and her husband, Chris McKenzie, and Heidi Gifford and her husband, George Melas-Kyriazi; and six grandchildren, Eliot and Sophie Shimer, Jessica and Melanie McKenzie, and Luke and Lily Melas-Kyriazi.
A private burial will take place at the Church of the Messiah in Woods Hole. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Woods Hole Public Library or the Church of the Messiah.
See full obituary published in the Falmouth Enterprise.