This Guestbook has been created as a tribute to
Charles Latham, Jr.

In 1967, my class dedicated its yearbook to Charlie Latham, who was not a 'popular' teacher, but one whom we all respected. I am proud that we recognized his dedication, commitment and integrity. He was an honorable and caring man, and I am better for having known him.
Paul DeOrsay (Cold Spring Harbor, NY)


Charles, it was a delight spending the summer of 1962 with you in North Thetford and thereafter continuing my friendship with an old-school gentleman and scholar, which are not made too often anymore. Thanks for everything.
John Carty (Villanova, PA)

Charlie, You were one of the brightest minds I ever encountered at EA. And you gave so much to Episcopal in such selfless fashion. You will be missed by all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with you.
Tony Brown (Haverford, PA)

As I remember my high school years, Charles Latham stands out as a teacher, coach and advisor. Demonstrating the principles of Roman architecture with an apple and a paring knife, providing encouragement or correction on the cross-country course, or leading a canoe trip in the Pine Barrens, he exemplified the scholar,the gentleman and a person who cares.
Richard Greenwood (Barrington, RI)


A wonderful teacher and mentor to all of his students and to young people in general. A gentle man and a gentleman. All of those who were his students,who were coached by him or who enjoyed the outdoors with him in Wilderness Club while at EA are much better for it. Thanks Charlie Latham!!
Anthony Morris (West Chester Pennsylvania)

I took ancient history from Mr. Latham at Episcopal in 8th grade -- I think the best course I ever had in any subject. He weaved together the conventional textbook (Prof. Brestead from U. of Chi.), the Bible, the book Lost Languages, and decoding or simple cryptanalytic exercises, drawing on his time as a codebreaker in the Army Signal Corps in WWII. There you had it: tradition and scholarship, scripture, and reason, all together in one course, the ultimate that Episcopal aspired to offer. He put together his love of history, his Army experience and expertise, and faith to produce the best learning experience I had in 14 years at the school.
David Peyton (Falls Church, VA)

Charlie was one of my favorite teachers (masters, we called them,) at Episcopal Academy. A wonderful teacher and gentleman he always had a twinkle in his eye and a friendly way of getting his points across. May he rest in eternal peace.
George Watson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine)

Charles was known as "the Chucker" by his students when he was Head of the Upper School at the Episcopal Academy. As a junior in 1968 I helped him with chores at his Thetford home. I will always remember him with fondness and profiund respect. Brooke
S. G. Brooke Tucker (Sparks, Maryland)


My condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Latham. He was the first Master to whom I was exposed at Episcopal and was a wonderful, engaging teacher.
Bill Kraft (Scottsdale, AZ)

I am somewhat embarassed to say that I have been living in the same state as Charles for the past 25 years and have never connected. That's not to say that I haven't thought of you often as I rummage through my high school experiences. I am thankful for the quiet, but steady support that I received as a cross country runner. I'm not sure that I ever got latin to a level that met with Charle's approval. And I'm happy that I got somewhat preferential disciplinary treatment as cross country captain with certain allowances to grow my hair longer than my classmates. Those were good years at Episcopal Academy. Charles was a good teacher and coach.
Peter Lind (Montpelier, Vt)

An Episcopal Academy treasure, his passing marks the end of an era. He will be missed
john p gregg (Haverford Pa)


My condolence to the family. I am a 1977 graduate of EA. I have fond & vivid memories of Mr. Latham. He made a great impression on me and helped guide me through difficult situations. I hope he passed peacefully.
Robert Hayes (Rocklin, CA)


Mr Latham,
My thoughts an dprayers are with him. I knew him as a teacher and mentor during my years at Episcopal.
Ferrara '69
Robert L Ferrara (Radnor, Pa)

He was a good friend at a difficult time in my life as he was a good friend to many other students at Episcopal Academy. We will remember him with fondness and gratitude.
James L. Fulton, III EA '62 (McLean, VA)


Some of the best memories I had at Episcopal were running Cross Country under the direction of coach Charles Latham. Mr. Latham inspired true greatness in his runners with the same calm yet determined demeanor that coach John Wooden displayed as a coach at UCLA.

Mr. Latham had a dry sense of humor which many students never saw unless they were fortunate enough to know him outside the world of academia.

I feel blessed to have been coached by this man for the 4 years I attended Episcopal. His legacy will live on as a hopeful inspiration for future students and athletes.
John Leisenring EA '76 (Arlington , Va.)

Mr. Latham was a teacher from the old school and deeply appreciated for it. He cared deeply for education, justice, and seeking the truth, and cared less for disturbing conventional wisdom when he thought it deserved disturbing. I am grateful that I was a student of his once.
Peter Quinn (The Plains, VA)

Mr. Latham was one of the more memorable teachers I had at Episcopal Academy. He definitely had a large measure of that New England reserve and very dry wit. I know that he cared deeply about his contribution to his students; that legacy is obvious reading the other condolence messages. I'll never forget a lecture he gave one day on the significance of crenellations in protecting castles, absolutely fascinating. I've used that little bit of architectural trivia several times in my life. I also remember his deep expertise in flying buttresses and Gothic cathedrals...WOW! When he was in charge of the Uper School, I had a fun time getting released to leave campus on occasion. I'd go to the edge of his partitioned office and he'd sternly look at me over the top of his reading glasses. I'd apologize for disturbing him and would tell him I'd come back later. He'd always insist on my continuing and I'd always preface my request with a sincere " How's the treasury of grace today?". He'd smile and say "what are you Up to now?" I'd do my pitch and and without fail would be granted permission to venture forth. I was always truthful with him about my plans, even if the request might have been somewhat marginal. I had too much respect for Mr. Latham to ever want to "smoke" him, which probably wouldn't have worked anyhow. What a blessing to all of us that we enjoyed the privilege of getting to spend time with Charles Latham and many of the other fine EA masters who have crossed over. Thank you, dear sir, for the fine teaching and sometime mentoring. Rest in Peace and Bon Voyage!
Sam Kephart EA '69 (Spearfish, South Dakota)

Mr. Latham was an educator extraordinaire. He taught me how to get over myself (Son, cutting your unruly hair is not an act of surrender but one of kindness to all of us who have to look at you.) He taught me how to construct an argument (Young man, if you want to convince me that we should change the way we have been doing things here for the last 184 years, begin with what you've learned in the last 16 to know better. And he taught me how to read Locke, Rousseau and and John Stuart Mill. (Mr. Markus, consider what will happen to you and your grade and your participation on the football team if you don't.) This, delivered with his soupcon of a wry grin, as he gazed into the space over your head. For my money, no teacher taught me more or better. Long live Charlie, Chucker, and the Hawk.
David Markus (San Francisco, CA)

A wonderful teacher and administrator! Tough, but fair and fun, in his own way. I went to Dartmouth and when I arrived there in the Fall of 1970, from all of his talk about Thetford, I felt I knew the Upper Valley very well already. he loved EA and the Upper Valley equally.
Andrew Newman, EA '70 (Edimburgh, Scotland)

Two memories that have always stuck with me:


1) The military precision (and good nature) with which he organized the students in moving the contents of the school library in the summer of 1973. No Centurion could have kept his legion in good order as Charles did then.

2) His Chapel reading of the passage from Daniel telling of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace of Babylon was so energetic that to this day whenever I hear or read the passage I'm immediately transported to the Chapel in Merion and hear his voice and accent again.
Be at peace, Charles!
Doug Stein (Lake Oswego, OR)

After all these years I still have many fond memories of Mr Latham and a belief reflected in others' comments that Episcopal has indeed lost one of its greatest masters.
John Voorhees Class of 1969 (Boulder Colorado)

Charlie Latham was a philosopher king. I was honored to have been invited by him on a few occaisions to the Philadelphia Orchestra. Senior French teacher at Episcopal. He understood the Good, the True and the Beautiful.
Bill Clark , EA '73 (Windham, VT)

I was fortunate to have Mr. Latham as my teacher in Contemporary Civilization his first year at Episcopal Academy (1958-1959). His imprint on my education was indellible, his love of history infective as I followed him to Princeton as a history major and a life long history buff. His choice of contemporay readings are still some of my favorites. He encouraged David Riggs and I to vie for the Contemporary Civilization prize which I won. David however went on to a more illustrious academic career at Harvard and as a marshall Scholar and a professor of english at Stanford.There was no finer teacher and mentor.
Hilton Smith (Seattle, Washington)

During my Junior year at Episcopal I had personal issues that prevented me from completing that year. Mr. Latham showed great empathy and compassion. I was able to go to summer school at EA and continue with my class. During my Senior year, Mr. Latham was always there for me -a strong support. We would talk in his office from time to time, just to check in. He even took me out for dinner on two occasions and to the Philadelphia Orchestra. I knew him as a warm, caring man who was a champion for every student. I was blessed to have run Cross Country for him for four years, and to have had him as a teacher. He was an excellent teacher. Did he kick me out of the library a few times? You bet! Funny, though the years have passed, I'd love to go back and be kicked out again, one more time! Personally, I will miss him greatly. God Bless You, Mr. Latham. I will never forget your caring and concern during a time when I needed it most. You didn't have to reach out to a troubled kid but you did. You made a difference in my life and in the lives of countless students.
John C. Hill (Wynnewood, PA)

One of the best teachers I ever had.
The highest compliment I can pay is that to this day, whenever I read history I think of him.
R.I.P. Mr. Latham
Eric Scheie (Annn Arbor, MI)

A truly gifted teacher and one I'll always remember. I worked my butt off on a research paper about the reasons the USA entered WWII, complete with tons of footnotes and references, espousing a politicaly unpopuar minority opinion shall I say. He didn't agree with my conclusion and my grade showed it. Despite that, I enjoyed every minute of his class.
Lowrey Heaver '59 (Malvern, PA)

In 1962 I was interviewed by Mr. Latham as a possible candidate for entrance to Episcopal for the ninth grade class. I was the Greek boy from public school in West Philly who had absolutely no family ties or previous connections to The Academy. In those days I was the token minority and my presence helped to foster the later integration of the school. I am happy Mr. Latham saw something good in me and accepted me. As the other our graduates of my era I think of him and my time at Episcopal almost every day.
One morning after leaving chapel services I had one of my most memorable encounters with Mr. Latham. He was one of the people who made me into a gentleman. I am extremely grateful he gave me the opportunity to learn. I know Mr. Latham had a very positive effect on my life and the lives of many others fortunate enough to be at Episcopal during his tenure.
James Apesos, MD (Dayton, Ohio)

Mr. Latham was the best teacher, by far, that I ever had, through Episcopal, college and graduate school. I honor him.

The really interesting thing for me is this: the comments on this memorial page mostly come from people who went to a small school in Merion, Pa., but who now live on both America's coasts and lands in between, and overseas (like I did for 12 years in Europe and the Middle East). And yet they come together over that space and time to share a common experience in these pages in memory of a teacher.

I know personally some of the people who have commented on this page. But for all of you who have commented here, whether I know you personally or not, I welcome a connection because any student of Mr. Latham's is a friend of mine.
lew staples (north beach, md)

I was always partial to Charlie Latham. He was a shy man with a very endearing manner about him.
I will always remember him as a great teacher, great coach, and a man who was sincerely interested in his students. He helped to make my years at EA memorable ones. I'm sad to hear of his passing.
John Dautrich (Strafford, PA)

I remember him telling me that he missed teaching students during the late 60's/early 70's. He said back then students asked "why?", whereas later they were only asking "what is it I need to know." He liked being challenged.
Richard Herschel, Ph.D. (Philadelphia)


Mr Latham inspired a love of history in me and many others. His willingness to go outside the norm with his animated and colorful "reenactments" of major historical events, which included standing atop desks and chairs, was amazing. He gave of himself in so many ways to not only EA, but it's students as well many other institutions such as Christ Church in Philadelphia. I had the pleasure of playing a small part in his incredible work creating the "official" archives of the Church and I know my father is eternally greatful to him for all of his hard work writing the history of the Church as well. I will always remember him fondly in my heart.
Philip Trimble EA Class of 1980 (Northbrook, IL)

I joined the faculty at Episcopal after one year of teaching experience and was a History Department colleague of his for almost twenty years. Looking back on those early years, I realize that I was extremely fortunate to have him as a mentor. He was honest but kind in his suggestions on how I could improve my craft, infectious in his love of history, and true to his strict but fair standards. Perhaps most important of all, he led in the most effective way possible - quietly, by example. The students and faculty whose lives he touched were better people because of his loving influence. I already miss him.
Jon Kulp (Endwell, NY)

I took Mr. Latham's Russian History course in 1969, the fall of my senior year. When I took the same course several years later in college I found it to be far inferior to the one I had already had. But the interest that he sparked in me continued on though writing a senior thesis on the Russian populists and a graduate course at Penn.

I particularly remember a story he told us that fall as the anti-Vietnam War movement was cresting and we were all very much aware of the possibility of the draft. As I recall it, he told us how as a student at Princeton, he and his friends had been signing pledges that they would never fight in a foreign war, and then after Pearl Harbor immediately volunteered for service. I have passed this on to many of my own US history students over the years as a useful way of conveying how many felt during those years and how those feeling swung sharply on Dec. 7th. I'm sure he meant it as a useful caution about feeling too confident in one's own understanding of anything happening in the world around us. But it was also characteristic of his integrity that he clearly remembered his own youthful enthusiasm and could share that with us in a way that has stuck with me for the last forty-one years. That is an emblem of a great teacher.
Douglas Keith (Berwyn, PA)

Whenever I reflect upon my experience at Episcopal, which is often, I always see the image and hear the voice of Mr. Latham. For me, Episcopal and Charles Latham are one. He will always be Episcopal to me ... held in my memory and heart forever.
Jay Stephen Shotel '67 (Derwood, MD)


When I first attended Dublin School in Dublin, New Hampshire in 1952,Charles Latham was on staff there. I had him as my English teacher. He was a wonderful man of knowledge and faith. He was also the coach when I later entered soccer team. He's a man who will never be forgotten by the Dublin students at school during the 1950s. My condolences to his family members.
Robert S. Harris (Goffstown, New Hampshire)

I last saw Charlie exactly three weeks before he passed away. He was spry and alert and, as usual wanted to talk about Dublin School. Charlie was a taskmaster, at least for me, while at Dublin. For whatever reason, he thought I had linguistic abilities and tried to teach me a non credit course in German and then proceeded to hand out a D for the first grade period. When I queried him about that, he simply said "I know you can do better." He was right, the next grade period I managed an A. That was his style, and I appreciated him for that. I kept in touch with Charlie all the years since leaving Dublin in 1950, and can say that the relationship with him was always warm and friendly. I will miss him and am proud to have known him both as a teacher and then subsequently as a true friend.
Pete Schenck (Santa Barbara, CA)

Let every Town have its stated historian, who shall delight in his duty, whose object will be to collect facts of the aged, and by all other means Providence may afford him; to record passing events of an interesting nature. Thetford has been fortunate to have that historian in Charles Latham.
Larry Coffin, President, Bradford Historical Society (Bradford,VT)

When I attended Dublin School the student body was about 60 and the faculty maybe ten. Charlie was the History department, and held many other titles; dormitory supervisor, table monitor, coach, driver and general fill-in whenever a position opened. So every student was blessed to encounter his dry wit, his disciplined scholarship in history and his honest humbleness in the face of something he found ill equipped to fully understand or explain ... all of which came together in character that gets remembered forever. Although today I would disagree with a lot of his history I will never stop respecting it or him. Pax
Stanley Swaim (East Burke, Vt)

Charles, You have been a kind and thoughtful friend and I shall miss our Christmas Card conversations greatly. May eternal light shine upon you.
Elizabeth Greenwood (Villanova, Pa.)

As a frail youth, Mr. Latham was an invaluable friend and supporter. Mr. Latham was the ideal school administrator, especially in the late 1960's. We shared interests in architecture & history. He authored a book on Victorian Architecture of Cape May. Mr. Latham's departure from Episcopal was a loss for the school. May God continue to bless Charles Latham, Jr.
Stephen A. Marder (Gladwyne/PA)

Charlie Latham was the quintessential gentleman scholar. He was widely admired and appreciated by his many friends and associates in his native Indianapolis. He authored the biography of William Fortune, a key figure in the development of Indianapolis, gave dedicated service to the Indiana Historical Society, and worked tirelessly for St. Richard's Episcopal School. We shall miss him tremendously.

James P. Fadely, Ph.D.
Vice President
Board of Directors
St. Richard's Episcopal School Foundation
James P. Fadely (Indianapolis, Indiana)

In a school that puts high value on the development of mind, body and spirit the faculty, administration and staff are called to provide daily examples of it as teachers, counselors and coaches. Throughout his years in those roles at The Episcopal Academy, Charlie Latham was a prime exemplar. Herein, we read why he was so highly regarded by those he taught, counseled and coached; no other testimony could be more trusted; none more is grateful. For years I met Charlie early each school day morning after what I knew were lonely and often sleepless nights. We talked, and within those 10 to 15 minutes, without more than a few nods and words of acknowledgement from me, he bloomed and left bent for the challenge of serving his students and faculty until his long, always productive day ended. We can be confident that his example of and instruction in the development of mind, body and spirit are being passed on to the second generation now and will thrive through several more in decades to come.
Jay Crawford (Rosemont PA)