Obituary of Stuart B. Upson

Stuart B. Upson, a prominent advertising executive and industry leader whose career spanned six decades at one agency, passed away October 31st in New Canaan, CT. He was 89 and resided in Darien, CT. The cause of death was complications from a fall, his son Stuart Upson Jr. confirmed. Mr. Upson was born April 14, 1925 in Cincinnati. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy and Yale University, completing his degree in 2 years in the Class of '45W in order to serve with the U.S. Navy in World War II. He began his career in advertising in 1946 as a junior account executive in the Chicago office of Dancer Fitzgerald Sample. Two years later he moved to the New York office, where he quickly rose to become president and then chairman and led the firm to unprecedented success, including being named as Adweek's Agency of the Year in 1985. Mr. Upson guided DFS through its 1986 merger with Saatchi & Saatchi, from which he retired in 2011 as Chairman Emeritus. Widely respected in the advertising community, Mr. Upson was chairman of The Ad Council, chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, and inducted into the American Advertising Foundation's Advertising Hall of Fame in 2007. For 35 years, he was deeply involved with The Fresh Air Fund, and served as its president from 1978-1988. Mr. Upson moved to Darien in 1957 and was a member of Wee Burn Country Club. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Barbara Jussen Upson; his daughters Meg Nichols (Ed) of Denver and Anne Marcus (John) of Greenwich, CT, his son Stuart Upson Jr. (Kate) of New Canaan; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Fresh Air Fund, 633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 or Darien's Post 53,
Zero Ledge Road, Darien, CT 06820. A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 8th at 11:30 a.m. at St. Luke's Church, 1864 Post Road, Darien, CT. Arrangements are being handled by Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820, (203) 655-6127. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820