Courtesy of Dan Woog, 06880:
Richard “Deej” Webb, Jr. — a Westport native, teacher and historian who grew up near Longshore, then turned a fascination with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s summer here into a book and documentary that claimed this area inspired “The Great Gatsby” — died on December 21. He was 63.
Deej was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but moved with his family to Westport at 6. He attended Saugatuck Elementary, Bedford Junior High and Staples High Schools, and Pomfret Academy.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University, he taught social studies — and then headed the department — at New Canaan High School.
Richard “Deej” Webb
Though the Westport of Deej’s youth looked quite a bit different from that of the several months that F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald spent in Westport, the area around Longshore and Long Island Sound were recognizable.
The couple rented a home — still standing — on Compo Road South, just north of what is now the Longshore entrance drive.
Deej meticulously researched the real estate and topography of the town-owned club, which in 1920 was the personal estate of the very wealthy Frederick E. Lewis.
Believing that Fitzgerald’s view of the estate, and the Sound beyond it, influenced the author’s view of protagonist Jay Gatsby, and his lifestyle — not, as traditionalists believed, Long Island — Deej pored over newspaper and magazine stories, other historical documents, and Fitzgerald’s own writing, to prove his point.
Deej then collaborated with Robert Steven Williams. They co-produced a documentary: “Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story.” It used Deej’s findings — and archival photos — to make the same claim about Westport’s role.
The pair also published a companion book: “Boats Against the Current: The Honeymoon Summer of Scott and Zelda.”
Though the Westport of Deej’s youth looked quite a bit different from that of the several months that F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald spent in Westport, the area around Longshore and Long Island Sound were recognizable.
The couple rented a home — still standing — on Compo Road South, just north of what is now the Longshore entrance drive.
Deej meticulously researched the real estate and topography of the town-owned club, which in 1920 was the personal estate of the very wealthy Frederick E. Lewis.
Believing that Fitzgerald’s view of the estate, and the Sound beyond it, influenced the author’s view of protagonist Jay Gatsby, and his lifestyle — not, as traditionalists believed, Long Island — Deej pored over newspaper and magazine stories, other historical documents, and Fitzgerald’s own writing, to prove his point.
Deej then collaborated with Robert Steven Williams. They co-produced a documentary: “Gatsby in Connecticut: The Untold Story.” It used Deej’s findings — and archival photos — to make the same claim about Westport’s role.
The pair also published a companion book: “Boats Against the Current: The Honeymoon Summer of Scott and Zelda.”
Celebrating “Gatsby Day” in Westport in 2019 at the Fitzgerald house on Compo Road South are (from left) Robert Steven Williams, 1st Selectman Jim Marpe, Deej Webb, and Westport Museum of History & Culture executive director Ramin Ganeshram. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
After retiring from teaching, Deej served as a docent and volunteer at the Westport Museum for History & Culture, Fairfield Museum & History Center, the Sasquanaug Association and Lockwood-Mathews Mansion.
He gave walking tours of Longshore and Southport Harbor. He also served on nonprofit boards, including the Pequot Library.
Deej was also an avid New York Mets, Jets and Giants fan.
He is survived by his former wife, Deborah Webb; his sister Christy Webb Gibson; twin nieces in Canada, as well as the Webb and Payne families in the US and Canada. Deej’s infectious enthusiasm for history, life and sport (Mets, Giants and Jets) touched many. He will be remembered as the life of the party, very often the smartest man in the room and certainly the funniest.
Information on services will announced soon.
