Obituary of Claire Hunter Mead

A longtime resident of Rye, Claire Hunter Mead, died at her home on May 31st after a long illness. She was 94 years old. Claire was born May 5, 1922, in New York City to Frank and Elsa (nee Alves) Hunter. After graduating from from Mount Holyoke College during World War II, she worked in Washington DC for the Army Signal Corps in their cryptanalysis department decoding Japanese messages. After the war ended, Claire returned to New York and was hired by the American Mercury Magazine, working as an assistant to the editor, Lawrence Spivak, at the time when he was recruiting Senators, Congressmen, and other prominent figures to appear on his new radio program, “Meet the Press,” which later became the popular television program of the same name. In 1948, Claire married Donald A. Mead who was an attorney. The two had known one another since childhood, having grown up as next door neighbors in New Rochelle. They moved to Rye with their young family in 1962, and Claire became an active member of the 25th Twig of Christ’s Church in Rye and of the American Yacht Club. Claire and her husband shared a deep love of opera and classical music and were keen supporters of the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall in New York. They also loved to travel and toured many parts the world. Donald was a licensed pilot and they travelled extensively around the United States and the Caribbean in their cherished Cessna 310 airplane. After her husband’s death in 1996, Mrs Mead became an avid bridge player and spent many enjoyable hours taking lessons and playing with various groups. Claire Mead is survived by her daughter, Sandra Allen and her husband, Jeffrey of Belchertown, Massachusetts, a second daughter, Patricia Mead and her husband, Thomas Spiconardi of Yorktown Heights, her son, Christopher Mead and his wife Maggie of New York City as well as 5 grandchildren, Rebecca Allen and her husband, Greg Nagurney, Corey Allen and his wife, Talita, Andrew Allen, Gillian Mead, Tristan Mead and two step-grandchildren, Tommy and Brian Spiconardi. She is also survived by four great grandchildren, Claire and Wyatt Nagurney, and Emma and Julie Allen. In lieu of flowers, the family would very much appreciate contributions to Hospice Care in Westchester and Putnam, 540 White Plains Road, Suite 300, Tarrytown, New York 10591. Claire’s family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care shown to their mother in the last months of her life.