Esther Jane Vail, Class of 1929

June 3, 1912.   Just five days after the tragic death of her father, Irving Hudson Vail, Esther Jane Vail, Class of 1929, was born in Sayville, likely in the family home at 35 Cleveland Ave.  25 years later, Esther’s funeral would also be held in this home.

Esther’s father Irving,  was well known in Sayville and Islip town.  He died unexpectedly from pneumonia on May 30, 1912, in Whitestone Sanitarium at just 44 years of age.

Esther’s mother Lucille “Lulu” Elton Bason was the daughter of the prominent Sayvillite William W. Bason (1844–1916).  Lucille was born on October 12, 1879, in Sayville.

Lucille’s mother (Esther’s grandmother) was Esther Currie Bason 1845–1918.   It is likely, that Esther Jane Vail received her name in honor of her grandmother Esther Currie Bason.

On June 6, 1942, Lucille died suddenly and unexpectedly after being questioned by attorneys as a prospective juror, in Riverhead.

35 Cleveland Ave., Sayville NY courtesy of Google Maps.

Family tree courtesy of Ancestry  ID#kmandrews29

(https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/119596330/person/140190122589/facts)

Attending Sayville schools, Esther excelled academically.  In the 8th grade, she is top of her class.   This talented and bright young lady was consistently an honor student.

Esther graduated from Sayville High in 1929.  She was referred to as the class artist and “our champion light-weight”.

Esther Jane Vail in the 1929 Sayville High yearbook.

Esther then attended and graduated from the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School in Manhattan.

She was hired by and started working for the National City Bank in Manhattan in June 1930.

National City Bank of New York (1929)

Pérez Tomé, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This piece of artwork by Esther Jane Vail, Class of 1929 expresses pride in the past, optimism, and enthusiasm for the future. This picture is kindly provided courtesy of Caroline (Gaffney) Tripptree, Class of 1966. Thank you, Caroline!

Four years after graduating, Esther’s artwork was displayed along with other Sayville High alumni artwork in 1933 in the high school auditorium.  The article explains that Esther had been taking private oil painting lessons.

Sadly, Esther suffered from an illness that required extended hospitalization.   In 1936, the Suffolk County News reported she was improving and was visiting family.

At the very young age of just 25 years, 5 months, & 24 days, Esther Jane Vail was tragically taken by death.

Esther’s death deeply saddened the Sayville community.  She had her whole life ahead of her.  There are no words to explain the true agony of her family, friends, classmates, and teachers. Her obituary offers a radiant description of this amazing young lady.

Although we don’t know the actual cause and etiology of Esther’s death, I have to wonder what Esther’s life would be like today, given the tremendous advances in women’s health care over the 80-90 years.

Additionally, I have to ponder where she would have gone with her life, given the improvements in women’s rights, and workplace opportunities.   I don’t mean to suggest true equality exists for women in all workplace scenarios, but certainly more opportunities would have been presented for Esther to consider, given her sharp mind and remarkable talents.

to put it into context, please consider the words of Jone Johnson Lewis;

Context: Women’s Roles in 1900–1929
“Women in the first decades of the 20th century saw an increased opportunity and public presence, including a strong role in union organizing. During World War I, many women who’d been stay-at-home mothers and wives entered the workforce for the first time. Women activists agitated for more than the vote, which was finally won in 1920, but also for workplace fairness and safety, minimum wages, and the abolition of child labor.”

But some women still needed to work, and work they did. While the economy was losing some jobs, in newer fields, such as the radio and telephone industries, job opportunities for women were actually expanding.

“One of the main reasons women were hired for many of these new jobs that resulted from emerging technology was that they could be paid considerably less than men (and often still are). Again, the wage gap was justified by the stereotype of the male breadwinner needing earnings that would support not just himself, but a traditional family—whether he was married or not.”

Lewis, Jone Johnson. “The 1930s: Women’s Shifting Rights and Roles in United States.” ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/womens-rights-1930s-4141164.

Esther was laid to rest in the Bason family plot in St. Anne’s cemetery, Sayville, NY.

Photograph courtesy of Aislin.  findagrave ID#46535342