Stanley C. Morse

MILLBROOK – Stanley C. “Stan” Morse, 82, a 39-year Millbrook resident, died Friday, April 19, 2024 in Puerto Rico.    Stan was born by mid-wife on May 2, 1941, to Mrs. Margery and Dr. Grant D. Morse in Saugerties, NY.

Morse co-owned Marstan Travel of Millbrook with his spouse, Mary, retiring in 2009 after a 56-year work career.   He was a thirty-year Naval Reservist, Vietnam Veteran, former IBM worldwide program manager, travel agent and schoolteacher.

Morse earned several degrees from Rider University and SUNY at Albany.  He was an avid reader, public servant, dog lover, opera fan and lifelong golfer.  He enjoyed building and giving away model dioramas and doll houses to young people, and took up sketching and painting at age 71, earning ribbons for his artwork at the Dutchess County Fair, four years running.

After completing careers at IBM and the U.S. Navy, he joined his wife, Mary at her travel agency.  While at Marstan he started his own travel business, Golf Hudson Valley, sending golfers worldwide to play at famous courses. Morse played golf in over 20 countries and enjoyed a mid-handicap.  During several years he authored over sixty “Enlighted Traveler” articles for Taconic Newspapers.  At his death Morse and his wife had traveled in over 75 countries.

In his mid 60’s, Morse ran successfully for political office, serving as Village of Millbrook Trustee and Deputy Mayor for two terms.  As Trustee he oversaw the Village Highway Dept., was instrumental in reforming the Village’s refuse and recycling program, chairing the Village’s Water Committee, also serving on the joint Village & Town Emergency Preparedness Committee.

After leaving the Village Board, Morse served as Chair of the Village Planning Board.  In addition, he was appointed chair of the committee to update the Millbrook Village Code.  He also served on Congresswomen Sue Kelly’s Travel Industry Council and was a member of future Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s and Congressman Scott Murphy’s Veteran’s Advisory Board.  In 2003 Morse was called to Washington to give testimony in Congressional hearings on the status of the US travel industry.  Morse saw every President of the United States “in the flesh” from Harry Truman through the current President and attended five presidential inaugurations.

Morse was a past president of the Hudson Valley Chapter of the American Society of Travel Agents, Millbrook Arts Group and Town of Washington/Village of Millbrook Business Association and was a member of the Dutchess Community College Business Advisory Board.  He was a former Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow, as well as a life member of the NRA and Trout Unlimited.

Morse enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966 in the early stages of the Vietnam War.   He was a destroyer man, logging over 60,000.  Sea miles, and spent two tours in Vietnam, receiving multiple awards and combat action ribbons.  In 1968-69 he was Command Briefing Officer for all U.S. Navy activity in Vietnam to future CNO Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.  After leaving active duty in 1969, he completed a thirty-year career in the Naval Intelligence Reserve, rising to the rank of Captain and commanding two Naval Reserve Units.  He was also Chief of Staff for the Naval Intelligence Reserve for the northeastern United States.

After retiring, Morse became a Life Member of VFW Post 9008 in Millbrook, marching regularly in annual parades, and serving twice as featured speaker in area Memorial Day celebrations.  Later he served as a volunteer at Vassar Hospital.

Morse was married for 60 extremely happy and satisfying years to the former Mary Elizabeth Messina, who survives at home.  It didn’t much matter what he and his wife did, as long as they did it together.  There were no prior marriages.

He was predeceased by his siblings: Dr. Roger A. Morse, Jean Morse Kallop, and Shirley Anna Morse.  He is survived by several nieces, nephews and godchildren.

His funeral service will be held privately with burial in the Methodist Cemetery, Roxbury, New York.   Arrangements are under the direction of the Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home, Inc. Cor. of John & Lafayette Sts., Saugerties.   Expressions of condolence may be shared with the family on Stan’s Tribute Wall at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stanley C. Morse, please visit our floral store.