Henwood Morley Jewell: RAF WWII vet and musician

October 30, 2024 at 10:33 p.m.

Henwood Morley Jewell, 100, a longtime resident of Port Chester, died at home peacefully Oct. 11, 2024.

Morley, as he liked to be called, was born in January 1924 in the countryside surrounding Camborne, Cornwall in southwestern England.

He graduated from the Trinity College of Music in London with a music education degree and attended the Royal College of Organists in London where he received his Fellow of the Royal College of Organists degree in Organ with a minor in Piano.

He served England in the RAF (Royal Air Force) as a Communications Specialist at the end of World War II, and his tour of duty took him to Italy, Austria, Kenya, and Zambia.

He preferred manning the switchboard on night shift duty so he could play an available organ or piano whenever possible during the daytime, and he played religious services for his comrades so they could worship with live music.

After marrying Patricia Wernham of London in 1952, he emigrated to Canada and the U.S.

During this time, he attended Boston University for graduate studies in Classical Music as well as English Literature.

He ultimately settled in Port Chester in 1967, where he remained a resident until his death.

Morley’s biggest passion in life was music; an avid organ player, he spent countless hours perfecting his craft, playing concerts at various churches and cathedrals across the U.S. and England, including many of the area churches in New York and Connecticut near his home.

With a career spanning more than 60 years, he had the opportunity to perform in such famous places as the West Point Military Academy Cadet Chapel, which houses the world’s largest organ within a house of worship.

When Morley wasn’t playing the organ, giving lessons on the piano, or teaching music, he could be found enjoying his long morning walks, enjoying fish and chips, creating his own set of word games, reading literary classics including authors’ complete works and watching tennis.

He was a regular at the Port Chester/Rye Brook Public Library keeping them busy, as he often was reading up to three books at a time and seeking out many requests for esoteric titles.

He was an active member of the Dickens Fellowship “The Fezziwigs” which met monthly at Manhattanville College which he enjoyed immensely.

He had a welcome sense of humor and enjoyed telling a combination of tried-and-true jokes peppered with his originals to both those he knew and anyone who would lend an ear; he often made someone’s day a bit brighter with the laughter they shared.

His family will miss him greatly.

He was predeceased by the mother of his children, Patricia Wernham, his sister Marjorie (England), father Cecil and mother Elizabeth (England).

He is survived by his children, Lory of Connecticut, Renee of Rhode Island and Roger of Florida; his three grandchildren: Robert of Massachusetts, Kimberly of Florida and Caroline (Michael) of Massachusetts, great-granddaughter Desiree and his niece Susan (David) of England along with their son Josh.

Arrangements were private at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Rye Brook.

In place of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) or the American Guild of Organists.