Kelso Sutton of Florida and Westhampton Dies June 5

Kelso Sutton of Florida and Westhampton died on June 5 after a brief illness. He was 84.

Born March 8, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the only child of Kelso and Edith (Furbush) Sutton. He grew up in Falmouth Foreside, Maine, and graduated from The Hebron Academy in 1957, winning The Academy Cup, the school’s highest academic honor.

Following his graduation from Harvard University in 1961, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, Sutton was accepted into the circulation trainee program at Time Inc. One of his first successes was closing Life Magazine with great savings for the company. He was appointed Time’s youngest vice president in 1972, and soon thereafter was involved with the 1974 launch of People Magazine.

Among other positions, he was publisher of Sports Illustrated, where he helped to revive the swimsuit issue resulting in great financial success, and general manager of Time Magazine.

In 1985, Sutton became president and chief executive officer of the Magazine Group, overseeing 12 publications. In 1987, he was named president and chief executive officer of Time Life Books, where he spearheaded the acquisition of Scott Foresman Textbooks to become one of the world’s largest book publishers.

He retired in 1993, shortly after Time Inc. merged to become Time Warner.

A lifelong adventurer, who travelled the world extensively, Sutton enjoyed golfing, fishing, and hunting. He was an avid reader and book collector, enjoying everything, from history to spy novels to politics.

Sutton served on the boards of trustees of the Smithsonian Institution and the South Street Seaport. He was a member of The Harvard Club of New York City. He was an active member of the Westhampton Country Club, the Long Island Club, and the Quantuck Beach Club, all on the eastern end of Long Island, where the Suttons have been summering since the 1960s. In Florida, he was an active member of the Sailfish Yacht Club and the Breakers Palm Beach.

“Kelso Sutton was that rare and rugged individual, a gregarious, insightful, and accomplished gentleman, loved by all, and he made the world a better place,” his family said.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Joanna (nee Leather); his sons Kelso, of Quogue, and Alex (wife Tracy), of Orient; and three grandchildren.

A private burial service was held in Westhampton. A memorial service will be held on September 21 at St. James Episcopal Church in New York City.