Carrington H. "Caddy" Greenidge, 89, of 2114 Hillcrest Ave., Olean, New York, passed away after a brief illness July 29, 2022, at The Pines Machias, Machias, New York, where he had resided for the previous month. Born October 14, 1932, Caddy was the son of Ralph M. C. Greenidge and Frances H. Ford Greenidge of Chatham, New Jersey. Caddy grew up in Chatham and was known for making friends with everyone. When he was young, he was active in the Episcopal church, singing in a boys’ choir and later serving as an acolyte.
In 1951, he graduated from Morristown Beard Prep School (New Jersey). There he was a prefect and co-captain of the football team, as well as having lettered in baseball, basketball and track. After a short stint at Williams University where he was a member of Zeta Psi fraternity, he attended Harvard College and was a member of Dudley House and the Harvard Class of 1960. During his time at Harvard, he worked extensively at the university's radio station, WHRB, where he forged a life-long love of classical music.
He served two years in the U.S. Army, where he discovered his interest in engineering. After receiving an honorable discharge, he worked at Bell Laboratories as a technical assistant, where he personally tested every vacuum tube for the transatlantic submarine cable, which provided the first telecommunication between the United States and Europe. Caddy also worked on testing resistors for AT&T's Telstar I, the world's first communications satellite.
Caddy graduated from Rutgers University in 1971 with a B.A. in statistics.
Caddy became an expert in resistors, working at Bell Laboratories, Corning Electronics and Vishay Electronics in Bradford, Pennsylvania, before finally retiring at age 72. During his long career he served on various national and international electronics committees.
In 1984, he was invited to become a member of the International Electronics Commission, where he became the U.S. representative for resistors. The focus of these groups was the standardization of electronic components across the U.S. and around the world. He also contributed to electrical engineering textbooks.
In 1973, while working for Corning Electronics in Bradford, Caddy, his wife and two daughters moved to Olean. He and his wife Dot played tennis at the old Olean Racquet Club, playing doubles. They joined two duplicate bridge groups, a game that Caddy played until 2020. He was also a long-time member of the Ski Wing Hollow Ski Club and greatly enjoyed his work in the timing shack monitoring races. And, he was a faithful New York Giants fan.
Caddy became involved with Olean Community Theater, where he filled many back-stage roles and was on its Board of Directors. In 2002, he received the inaugural "Shorty Tech Trench Coat”, an award that recognizes people whose work ethic and dedication help bring live theater to the stage. He also served on the board of the Southern Tier Symphony, capping a lifetime of love for classical music. Despite his being Episcopalian, he sang in the choir of St. Bonaventure Church (Alleghany, New York) for many years.
Caddy is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Greenidge and Sue (Andy) Hannon, both of Olean; his brother, Malcolm Greenidge of Anaheim, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. Caddy was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy "Dot" Greenidge in 2013, whom he married in 1962; a niece, Jane McKay; and a great-niece, Georgette Hopkins.
The family welcomed friends to a celebration of life gathering on August 3, 2022, at Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home in Olean. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Southern Tier Symphony, PO Box 501, Olean, NY 14760.
Slightly modified version published by Olean Times Herald from August 1 – 3, 2022.
