1674-5 Pioneers Of Miami Beach June 1, 1977 ``�� �," ,k �•> ,, 1 - ,v c, `r_
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BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION on
(Henry) Willard Hubbell
who died Tuesday morning, May 31, 1977, t Green Briar Nursing Center, atter an T, _�
11 month confinement. l;�,LC - ��a L�,•'-4( I
1896 10 July, born to Rose Strong & Henry SalemHubbell in Chicago, Ill. c` 11
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1898 family moved to France so father could continue studies in art. Lived in ()
France, Spain, and attended West Heath School, Hampstead, London, and Bedales
School, Petersfield, Hants. , England.
1910 returned to U.S. Attended high school at Francis W. Parker in Chicago and
Horace Mann in New York. Class of 1918 at Cornell University (Classmate of
John Knight) , Ithaca, N.Y. Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Alpha Tau Cmega Fraternity
-- 1917-18 foreman, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. , Wilmington, Del.
1918-19 Sergeant, 33rd Machine Gun Batallion, 11th Division, Camp Meade, Md.
1920 married Lydia Hellen Hauslein in Philadelphia
personnel manager, Leeds & Northrup Co. , Phila.
assistant general manager, Luce Cane Harvester Corp. , N.Y.
1922 demonstrated sugar cane harvester in Moorehaven, Fla. , in May-July. Inspected
Pennsylvania Sugar Co. plantation at Miami.
1924 January arrived in Miami for expected 2-month stay demonstrating cane harvester.
When the above work was completed, stayed on "a few days" to see Miami.
Liked it, decided Miami would grow and remained ever since. Parents also
arrived independently, and settled in Miami Beach on Collins Canal.
daughter &: only child born in November: Rosemary Lydia Hubbell
entered building construction field as Hubbell and Hubbell General Contractors,
Inc. Built (among many others) the Casa Casuarina, now Amsterdam Apts. ,
Ocean Drive, Miami Beach (see attached); and The Kampong, home of Dr. and Mrs.
David Fairchild, Coconut Grove.
Willard Hubbell's father, Henry Salem Hubbell, at this time became one of the
22 original founding regents of the University of Miami at Coral Gables; thus,
Willard's lifelong interest in the U. of E.
1940-42 Executive Secretary, South Florida Children's Hospital, Miami (now Variety
Children's Hospital)
1942-46 Chief Instructor, during the War, of aircraft hydraulics maintenance, Embry-
Riddle Co. & became Dean, J.P. Riddle Interamericah Institute after the War.
1946 in the fall, he became Professor of Engineering, and Chairman, Engineering
drawing & graphics, University of Miami, where he taught until retirement in 1961.
CIL
1950 built residence adjoining daughter's at 8500 S.W. 52nd Avenue, Miami, and ;.;
summer cottage in Waynesville, N. C. where he summered until 1976.
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Hubbell Biog.
P. 2
1968 November, Lydia Hauslein Hubbell died
1973 Nov. 15th, married Ruth Lucile Farmer, of Petaluma, California
Social and Civic Activities
1924 November 13, was a Charter Member of the Lions Club of Miami, & President
1934-5. At the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Miami Lions Club, he was
the only living Charter Member present.
1926-32 with his wife, Lydia, he was active in the Civic Theatre of Miami, as
volunteer business manager as well as acting in many plays.
In addition to lifetime interest in Miami and Coral Gables Lions Clubs, until
illness curtailed his activities, he was active in the following for many years:
Biscayne Bay Yacht Club
University Yacht Club, Founding Member; Commodore, 1961
Historical Assn. of Southern Florida
Dade County Historical Board
Fairchild Tropical Garden
Council for International Visitors of Greater Miami, Inc.
Museum of Science
Sons of the American Revolution
American Institute for Economic Research, Member of the Corporation
American Institute Counselors, Trustee (Great Barrington, Mass.)
Surviving Family
Wife: Ruth Lucile Hubbell, 501 Valencia Ave. , Coral Gables, Fl. 33134 (lr1lia-2802)
Daughter: Rosemary Hubbell Wirkus (Mrs. Leonard V. Wirkus) 8501 S.W. 53rd Ave . (661-5166`
Miami, F 1.
Granddaughters:
Dr. Winifred L. Wirkus (Mrs. Subandi Djajengwasito, Malang, East Java,
Indonesia
Miss Lydia H. Wirkus, Anchorage, Alaska
Miss Kathryn Faustine Wirkus, Greensboro, N. C.
Great-grandchildren:
Sembadra Lydia Djajengwasito
Sunardjuna Leonard Djajengwasito
Srikandi Kathryn Djajengwasito
Rosemary Hubbell Wirkus (Mrs. Leonard V.)
June 1, 1977 Miami, Florida