Allison Garver Caesar, born in Manhattan, New York in 1921, celebrated her 100th birthday and peacefully passed away on July 8, 2021.
Allison Garver Caesar
She lived an extraordinary life filled with love for her family, friends, philanthropy, fashion and, of course, flowers.
Allison was married for 63 years to Henry A. Caesar II and, after moving to New Canaan, CT in 1940, raised four boys – Sanderson Caesar (Elizabeth), Porter Dean Caesar II (Susan), Austin Brewster Caesar (Margaretta) and John Garver Caesar. In turn, those boys gave her the joy of her 8 grandchildren: Allison, Sara and Rob; Laura and Andrea; Brooke, Tyler and Lauren and 13 great grandchildren.
She attended the Chapin School in New York, then spent two years in school in Gstaad, Switzerland before returning to the US to attend Westover in Middlebury, CT.
Allison lived a life of giving, not only to her family and devoted friends, but also to many organizations, both national and local. She had a great love for the arts and for her home city of New York and actively supported MOMA and the Metropolitan Opera. But her greatest support was for her community here in New Canaan.
And when she supported something, she was in it all the way – from financial support to serving on the board to creative fundraising and shoveling dirt to plant bulbs!! She was a worker.
For more than 10 years she was deeply involved in building the New Canaan Nature Center. She was Vice President, started the Christmas Market and was a member of the Exhibit and Design Committee.
She served on the altar guild of St Mark’s Episcopal Church for 12 years and, was a constant and joyful presence at Waveny Care Center for over 60 years!! She beautified the common rooms with fresh flowers and Harry Caesar sculptures. The flowers were collected from area churches, her own gardens and Queen Anne’s Lace from along the roadsides.
Long walks with her knowledgeable grandfather almost certainly inspired her unabashed love of flowers but Allison made flowers her own passion. She was awarded numerous honors from the Garden Club of America and the Garden Club of New Canaan not only for her many prize-winning arrangements but for 65 years of dedicated service.
As if raising 4 rambunctious boys and being a vibrant, involved member of the New Canaan community was not enough, Allison and Harry loved to travel. The wonderful years spent in Gstaad, Switzerland ignited a desire to see the world. They visited scores of countries across the globe absorbing the cultures, the foods, the architecture and the art.
In remembering Allison, we can never forget her flair for parties, both attending and hosting. Her spectacular parties by the pool were replete with stimulating conversation and creative table settings aglow with candles and flowers and fine food. At the center of all was Allison – always elegant and as Harry would say, “looking delicious”.
Allison packed a lot into her 100 years! In addition to her commitment to her family, she also made a lifelong commitment to the cultural growth of her community – stimulating the exploration of nature and enhancing the beauty of the town. Our family will indeed carry with us forever the joyful memories of our beloved Nanu.
Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, The Waveny Care Center (the AGC flower fund at Waveny Care) or the New Canaan Garden Club
A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by Hoyt Funeral Home in New Canaan, hoytfuneralhome.com.
I knew her as a friend.