Ernest Flagg Henderson III

Ernest Flagg Henderson, III, formerly of Wellesley Hills and Centerville, died Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at Sudbury Pines Extended Care Facility in Sudbury, Massachusetts following a period of declining health. He was 87 and the beloved husband of the late Marylouise Campbell Henderson for 55 years. Born in Boston October 25, 2012, he was the son of the late Ernest Flagg Henderson, Jr. and Mary Gill Stephens Henderson. Mr. Henderson had a varied education as a youngster and into his high school years having attended Hubbard Park, Buckingham, Brown & Nichols, Peabody School in Cambridge, Shady Hill and Belmont Hill Schools. He attended Harvard University in 1942 and 1943 prior to entering the United States Navy from 1943 until his discharge. In 1944 he became a Columbia Naval Commissioned Ensign and a permanent staff member to the US Navy Atlantic Fleet stationed in Portland, Maine. He later served in Shanghai , China for 5 months as Perminate Ensign in Communications transcribing code for the Navy and Gunnery officer in charge of all guns and munitions aboard the USS Sabine. He was then assigned to Singapore and later Saudi Arabia and finally to Honolulu and San Francisco. He was recalled to the Navy for a year in 1947 and was discharged as a 1st. Lt. Junior Grade. He later graduated from Harvard, Class of 1946, and continued his education earning and MBA from Harvard Business School in 1949. Mr. Henderson entered the family business, Sheraton Hotel Corp. in 1949 and rose from the Communication and Purchasing Division to Assistant for Acquisitions. He became Treasurer of Sheraton in 1954 and President of Sheraton from 1960 to 1967. From 1968 on he was the owner of numerous businesses in healthcare and manufacturing with his primary interest in Philanthropic endeavors and world travel with his beloved wife to over 250 countries. Mr. Henderson is survived by his devoted daughter, Roberta Henderson of Bolton and his son and daughter in law, Ernest “Spike” Henderson and his wife, Kathleen of Wellesley. He also leaves three sisters, one brother, numerous nieces and nephews and their children. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, July 28, at 10:00 am at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St., Wellesley. Visitation will be Friday, July 27, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the Duckett-J.S. Waterman & Sons Home of Memorial Tribute, 656 Boston Post Rd., Rt. 20, Sudbury. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. Henderson should be directed to New England Historical & Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116, USA 888/296-3447.