Eliphalet Nott Potter III, born August 6, 1906, in Noroton, Fairfield County, Connecticut, was a well-known figure in American history. Though his life was not as well-known as others, his accomplishments and legacy are remarkable, notably his ties to his renowned family and involvement in twentieth-century American culture. Potter died on June 8, 1981, in Collier County, Florida, at the age of 74; he was interred in Naples.
Family and Early Life
Eliphalet Nott Potter III was born into a famous family with deep intellectual and religious origins. His grandfather, Eliphalet Nott, was a well-known Presbyterian clergyman and educator who served as Union College’s president for many years. This educational and public-service legacy had a tremendous impact on Potter III’s early years. His father, Alonzo Potter, was a well-known religious figure who taught rhetoric and moral philosophy at Union College.
Potter III’s early years were shaped by his family’s supportive intellectual and academic environment. Growing up in this illustrious lineage, Eliphalet Nott Potter III was most likely affected by his family’s principles of education, service, and cultural enrichment, all of which played important roles in his later life.
Eliphalet Nott Potter III’s spouse is Phyllis Potter.
Phyllis Potter, born Phyllis Livingston Baker in 1908 in Boston, Massachusetts, was a well-known New York socialite and the first wife of the famed dancer and actor Fred Astaire. Their marriage, which began in 1933, was high-profile and drew national attention. Phyllis, a charming woman with experience in social events, had two children with Fred: Fred Jr. in 1936 and Ava in 1942. Unfortunately, Phyllis’ life was cut short when she died of lung cancer on September 13, 1954, at the age of 46. Fred Astaire, heartbroken by her death, struggled to continue working on the film Daddy Long Legs, but the support of his colleagues enabled him to complete the project. Their marriage lasted two decades, and they had a life of love and family, with Fred greatly grieving the death of his first wife.
Following the death of Phyllis Potter, Fred Astaire wedded Robyn Smith in 1980. However, Phyllis’ memory remained important in his personal life. Phyllis was not only the mother of their children, but also the stepmother of Fred’s first kid, Peter. Phyllis’ reputation as Fred Astaire’s wife and mother of his children continued long after her tragic death. Interestingly, Phyllis’s reputation was somewhat eclipsed by her husband’s prominence, despite her undeniable influence on his life. Later, Phyllis’ friendship with Eliphalet Nott Potter III became part of her personal tale, but her time with him was cut short due to her early death. Phyllis Potter, however, remains an essential role in the history of Astaire’s life and career, despite the fact that she is sometimes overshadowed by her renowned spouse.
Marriage to Phyllis Potter.
Eliphalet Nott Potter III’s marriage to Phyllis Potter was one of the most significant parts of his personal life. Phyllis, whose full name was Phyllis Baker, rose to prominence on her own. Their marriage united two important families, emphasizing the value of education and societal position in the early twentieth century. They lived a modest but significant existence in Florida, where Potter III spent his senior years.
Their relationship, albeit secret, was remarkable for preserving the Potter tradition, and the two were widely respected in their community. The couple’s tranquil existence in Collier County, Florida, was typical of many people from comparable backgrounds at the time, with a concentration on family, academic pursuit, and social position.
Academic and Professional Background
Eliphalet Nott Potter III, while not as well-known for a single profession as his predecessors, carried on the Potter family’s intellectual and professional tradition. Because of his family’s close links to Union College and other intellectual institutions, he was constantly exposed to educational possibilities. However, much of his adult life was spent away from the public eye. While records indicate that he worked in professional settings, such as administration or teaching, information on his career is limited.
Nonetheless, Potter III’s background in an academic household ensured that he was well-educated, which likely cultivated a great passion for the arts and intellectual conversation. His family history alone made him an intriguing character to genealogists and historians, particularly those interested in American education and the connections between religion and academics.
Later Life in Florida.
Eliphalet Nott Potter III spent much of his life in the Northeast before retiring to Florida. He and his wife Phyllis relocated in Collier County, where they could enjoy a calmer, more private existence. Potter III’s death on June 8, 1981, signaled the end of an era for the Potter family in the twentieth century, but his legacy endured via his family’s continuous prominence in both intellectual and society circles.
The couple’s burial in Naples, Florida, was a fitting end to their voyage, with Potter III’s ultimate resting place representing the calm dignity that defined most of his life. The Potters’ choice of Naples, a city noted for its peaceful beauty, echoed their final years of privacy.
Legacy and historical significance.
While Eliphalet Nott Potter III did not leave a strong public legacy like some of his forefathers, his life is nevertheless significant in the perspective of American history. His familial links to significant leaders in education and religion have secured his legacy, although in more specialized historical circles.
Historians and genealogists continue to investigate the Potter family’s impact on American intellectual life, notably their involvement in higher education and the clergy. The legacy of Eliphalet Nott Potter III, together with that of his forefathers, demonstrates the long-lasting influence of academic families on the cultural and intellectual development of the United States.
Eliphalet Nott Potter III’s life was defined by his strong links to his family’s illustrious intellectual and religious background, his quiet personal life with his wife, Phyllis, and his final years spent in the tranquil state of Florida. Despite his modest visibility, his role in the larger tale of American history remains an important chapter in comprehending the intellectual and cultural roots of the early twentieth century.
Conclusion
Eliphalet Nott Potter III’s life, which spanned from 1906 to 1981, was not marked by widespread public fame or recognition, but his contributions, connections, and legacy within his family provide an intriguing glimpse into the role of intellectual elites in shaping the course of American history. Through his connections to his forefathers, his marriage to Phyllis Potter, and his tenure in Florida, he remains a significant, although sometimes forgotten, figure in the history of American education and culture.
