Paul Fitchen
Encyclopedia
Paul Russell Fitchen was an American banker. He graduated Williams College
and the Harvard School of Business Administration to begin a career in banking.
Fitchen served for 23 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
in banking relations and as an examiner and then with the bank's cash and check handling operations.
Paul met Eleanor Beach
, daughter of renowned sculptor Chester Beach
, while she was attending Vassar College
. Eleanor and Paul were married in the Beach's 17th Street brownstone
on December 29, 1934, which was their primary residence until Paul retired in 1967. Their first home was an apartment overlooking Gramercy Park
where their first child, Douglas, was born in 1936 and their second, Ellen, in 1939. In 1940, accommodations in the brownstone were rearranged for the growing family. Chester and Mrs. Beach moved into an apartment on the top floor and the Fitchens took over the lower floors where their third child Anne, was born in 1943.
In 1951, while an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
, Paul Fitchen was invited by the Union Bank of Burma (now Myanmar) to live in Rangoon (now Yangon) for a year to help establish decimal currency and a central bank law for that newly-independent country. He flew directly there in July while Eleanor led the children, aged 15, 12, and 8, through Europe
and Egypt
from where they took a freighter for a slow voyage on to Burma.
From 1957 until his retirement in 1967, Mr. Fitchen was executive director of the New York Clearing House
Association at 100 Broad Street.
He was active in civic affairs and was chairman of the Town of Southeast's
first Conservation Commission. He and his wife, Eleanor Fitchen
, founded and organized Southeast Open Spaces (SOS), a nonprofit Putnam County
land trust, where he became its first president. As the role of the organization changed to protect properties in neighboring towns, the name was changed to Save Open Spaces and then to The Putnam County Land Trust, Save Open Spaces, Inc.
Paul was also the president of the Brewster Public Library on Main Street in the Village of Brewster
Paul Fitchen died at his home in Brewster, N.Y. at age 88, following cancer surgery
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
and the Harvard School of Business Administration to begin a career in banking.
Fitchen served for 23 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the United States. It is located at 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY. It is responsible for the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, which encompasses New York state, the 12 northern counties of New Jersey,...
in banking relations and as an examiner and then with the bank's cash and check handling operations.
Paul met Eleanor Beach
Eleanor Fitchen
Eleanor Beach Fitchen was a conservationist, preservationist and philanthropist. From her earliest years until her death in April 2009, Eleanor led a rewarding and memorable life and left a legacy that included the founding of several not-for-profit organizations, the conservation of hundreds...
, daughter of renowned sculptor Chester Beach
Chester Beach
Chester A. Beach was an American sculptor who was known for his busts and medallic art.-Early life:Beach was born in San Francisco, California. He studied initially at the California School of Mechanical Arts and worked as a jewelry designer immediately afterward, while continuing his art studies...
, while she was attending Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
. Eleanor and Paul were married in the Beach's 17th Street brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
on December 29, 1934, which was their primary residence until Paul retired in 1967. Their first home was an apartment overlooking Gramercy Park
Gramercy Park
Gramercy Park is a small, fenced-in private park in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park is at the core of both the neighborhood referred to as either Gramercy or Gramercy Park and the Gramercy Park Historic District...
where their first child, Douglas, was born in 1936 and their second, Ellen, in 1939. In 1940, accommodations in the brownstone were rearranged for the growing family. Chester and Mrs. Beach moved into an apartment on the top floor and the Fitchens took over the lower floors where their third child Anne, was born in 1943.
In 1951, while an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the United States. It is located at 33 Liberty Street, New York, NY. It is responsible for the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, which encompasses New York state, the 12 northern counties of New Jersey,...
, Paul Fitchen was invited by the Union Bank of Burma (now Myanmar) to live in Rangoon (now Yangon) for a year to help establish decimal currency and a central bank law for that newly-independent country. He flew directly there in July while Eleanor led the children, aged 15, 12, and 8, through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
from where they took a freighter for a slow voyage on to Burma.
From 1957 until his retirement in 1967, Mr. Fitchen was executive director of the New York Clearing House
New York Clearing House
The New York Clearing House Association, the nation’s first and largest bank clearing house, was created in 1853, and has played a variety of important roles in supporting the development of the banking system in America’s financial capital. Initially, it was created to simplify the chaotic...
Association at 100 Broad Street.
He was active in civic affairs and was chairman of the Town of Southeast's
Southeast, New York
Southeast is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 17,316 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county. Interstate 84, Interstate 684, US Route 202, and US Route 6 pass through the town.- History :...
first Conservation Commission. He and his wife, Eleanor Fitchen
Eleanor Fitchen
Eleanor Beach Fitchen was a conservationist, preservationist and philanthropist. From her earliest years until her death in April 2009, Eleanor led a rewarding and memorable life and left a legacy that included the founding of several not-for-profit organizations, the conservation of hundreds...
, founded and organized Southeast Open Spaces (SOS), a nonprofit Putnam County
Putnam County
Putnam County is the name of nine counties in the United States of America:*Putnam County, Florida*Putnam County, Georgia*Putnam County, Illinois*Putnam County, Indiana*Putnam County, Missouri*Putnam County, New York*Putnam County, Ohio...
land trust, where he became its first president. As the role of the organization changed to protect properties in neighboring towns, the name was changed to Save Open Spaces and then to The Putnam County Land Trust, Save Open Spaces, Inc.
Paul was also the president of the Brewster Public Library on Main Street in the Village of Brewster
Brewster, New York
Brewster is a village within the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, United States. Its population was 2,162 at the 2000 census. The village is the most densely populated portion of the town...
Paul Fitchen died at his home in Brewster, N.Y. at age 88, following cancer surgery