IN MEMORIAM:
Sumner “Tony Tilton Jr. (1938-2026)

Remembering Sumner “Tony” Tilton Jr., whose wisdom, advocacy, and extraordinary commitment helped shape the Willard House & Clock Museum from its earliest days and whose legacy will endure in the institution he cared so deeply about.

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The Willard House & Clock Museum mourns the passing of Sumner “Tony” Tilton Jr., a devoted Vice President of the Trustees, advocate, and friend whose extraordinary support helped build the museum and advance its mission for over 
50 years.

Tony brought to the Willard House a deep appreciation for history and the importance of preserving our shared heritage. He was a part of the development of the Willard House and Clock Museum since its inception and drew up most of the documents needed to secure incorporation, non-profit status, preliminary bylaws, and the National Register of Historic Places designation. He instinctively understood that the Willard House was more than a historic home or a collection of remarkable clocks—it was a place where craftsmanship, ingenuity, and the stories of generations could be preserved and shared.

Tony’s legacy extends well beyond his professional service to the museum. He understood that the most important lessons in life are often the simplest ones. He left his family with wisdom gathered over a lifetime: "don’t judge your parents too quickly; treasure your friendships; understand that life will not always be fair; turn its setbacks into opportunities; recognize good fortune and pass it along; and live by the Golden Rule."

Those lessons speak to the qualities he brought to the Willard House. He valued relationships and believed that the good we receive carries with it a responsibility to share it with others. His enormous generosity of spirit was clearly demonstrated by his many contributions to the fundraising efforts of the museum, drawn from his many contacts within the greater Worcester area.

We are profoundly grateful for Tony’s service to the Willard House & Clock Museum, and for the lasting mark he leaves on this institution. His absence will be deeply felt by our trustees, staff, volunteers, and the many friends of the museum who had the privilege of knowing him.

We remember Tony with gratitude for his leadership, his wisdom, and his remarkable advocacy for the Museum. His legacy will endure in the museum he cared so deeply about and in the many lives of those fortunate enough to have known him.

Robert C. Cheney
Executive Director
Willard House & Clock Museum