Walter Strong Mather, 85, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, the beloved husband of Nancy La Perla Mather, died on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 from complications due to Alzheimer's Disease. A true gentleman, Walter will be remembered for his keen intellect, great sense of style, sparkling wit and lively sense of humor. Throughout his life Walter was a man of wide-ranging interests, and was especially drawn to English literature, American history and early New England Americana and antiques. Walter was an enthralling conversationalist and an avid reader. He enjoyed collecting books and thoroughly enjoyed weekend antiquing excursions and acquiring unique treasures, many of which were given to family and friends. For the past twenty years Walter and Nancy, both Fellows of the University of Hartford's Presidents' College, have attended classes, lectures and events. Walter will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Walter was the son of the late Linwood S. and Mary Mather and was born on November 19, 1928 in Windsor, Connecticut. He was educated at Loomis Preparatory School, Bowdoin College, and Harvard Law School. He went on to enjoy a career as a trust and estates lawyer with Davis, Polk and Wardell of New York and the First National City Bank of NY. He served as trustee for the W. R. Grace family at Marine Midland Bank, was associated with Bessemer Trust and went into private practice when he relocated to Glastonbury. Walter was also a trustee of the Henry Viscardi School for severely handicapped children on Long Island and was a trustee of the Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn and Queens, NY. Walter is survived by his wife of 34 years, Nancy La Perla Mather, his step children, Stephen La Perla of New Canaan, CT, Robert La Perla of Glastonbury, CT and Nancy Ellen Bemis of New Canaan, CT and their families, his first wife Rachel Roser Mather and their children, Melissa Kunstadter of Washington DC, Walter S. Mather lll of East Lyme, CT, Rebecca Rupert of Stewart Manor, NY, Nancy Mather of Ellington, CT, Nathaniel Mather of Malmo, Sweden, Jeremiah Mather of Garden City, NY, Abigail Mather of Keene, NH, Timothy Mather of Keene, NH, Daisy Mather of Aledo, Texas and their families, his sister Joan Mather Mac Intosh of West Hartford and his sister-in-law Sandra Mather of West Hartford and her children. He was predeceased by his brother Linwood S. Mather of West Hartford and an infant son, Giles Mather. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Walter's family wishes to acknowledge, with sincere appreciation and thanks, the support and excellent care by the nursing staff at Saint Mary's Home in West Hartford, with a special thanks to Lilieth, Walter's aide, for her loving care throughout his three year stay. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Church of Christ Congregational, 2183 Main Street, Glastonbury. A private graveside service will be held earlier in the day. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Everlasting Spring Program at Saint Mary's Home, c/o the Development Office, 2021 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. To share a memory with the family please visit www.dillonbaxter.com