Southbury-

Elliott Gray Bates of Southbury, CT formerly of Bronxville, NY died peacefully at The Pomperaug Woods Health Center on Thursday June 15, 2023, at the age of 93.

Elliott was born on April 16, 1930, in Bronxville, NY and was the son of the late A. Elliott Bates and Jane Gray Bates. He was predeceased by Marilyn Bates, his loving wife of 55 years on January 18, 2010.

In his early years Elliott attended school in Bronxville and then enrolled at The Kent School in Kent, CT, graduating in 1948. He was very active in sports playing football and baseball, excelling at both. During the summers from 1940 to 1949 Elliott attended Camp Dudley in Westport, NY. He always said that Dudley taught him values that guided him throughout his adult life. After graduation from Kent, he joined the class of 1952 at Williams College, where he was a member of The Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. In 1951, he enlisted in the Army to be a part of the Korean War effort. He attended Officer Candidate School and then served in Korea where he was a 1st Lieutenant in the Field Artillery Unit. He received a Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and was honorably discharged in 1953. After his tour of duty, he then returned to Williams to complete his education, graduating in 1955.

Elliott and Marilyn married on August 6, 1955, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where Marilyn was from and then settled in Bronxville where Elliott started a career in the personnel area at New York Trust in NYC. In 1960 a job offer from Wells Fargo Bank relocated the family to Menlo Park, CA where they lived for 12 years enjoying the beautiful weather and meeting many lifetime friends. In 1972 Elliott accepted a position in the executive placement field in New York and he and Marilyn along with their three daughters returned to Bronxville. He retired in 2000 from Wright Associates, an executive outplacement firm. In 2007 Elliott and Marilyn moved to Heritage Village in Southbury, CT.

In retirement, Elliott continued to be an active sportsman playing tennis and golf and always stayed true to his California sports teams. He had an amazing ability to make friends and was so wonderful at keeping up with friends from his childhood. Whatever his cares, he never lost his sense of fun, and was always ready to keep the party going. He was a true gentleman, with elegant, old-school manners and a sense of chivalry.

Elliott is survived by his three daughters Betsy, Leslie, and Jennifer, sons-in-law Claude and Edward and grandchildren Matthew, Stacey, Kimberly, Karen, Gray, Cameron, and Bailey. He loved his family and was an incredible Father and Grandfather. Always taking the time to talk things out and help. His cheerful outlook, kindness and big smile will forever be remembered.

Elliott's family would like to thank the staff at Pomperaug Woods and Trinity Hospice for their outstanding care and compassion. The fellowship shown by the congregation at the Church of the Epiphany and Reverend Marston Price were an important part of Elliott's life in his later years. In addition, a heartfelt thanks to Nancy Tobin for her love and friendship.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 22 at 11:30 at the Church of the Epiphany, 276 Main St. N, Southbury, CT.

The burial will be private. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Camp Dudley, Inc. 126 Dudley Road, Westport, NY 12993.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.