Miles Carlisle

May 17, 1933 - January 13, 2021

Miles Carlisle of Chevy Chase, Maryland died on January 13 at the age of 87. He was born on May 17, 1933 in San Francisco, California to his parents Henry Coffin Carlisle and Mary Gorgas Carlisle.

After graduating from Thacher School, Miles received his undergraduate degree in 1954 from Stanford University. He served two years in the US Army before attending the Wharton School of Business and graduating with an MBA in 1958. Miles worked in investment finance at Loomis Sayles first in Boston and then Washington D.C. He continued his career at the International Finance Corporation where he worked in international banking for over 20 years.

He never missed a chance for outdoor sports, camaraderie, and adventure. He often shared memories with family and friends about his bi-coastal adventures, most notably fearless, weatherworn stories of flying his small plane during the 50’s and 60’s.

Miles married Margo Duer Black in 1961, and they raised their two children in Washington, DC until Margo died in 2006. In 2010, Miles married Kate Dawson Clark in Chevy Chase, MD. Miles and Kate lived together in Chevy Chase and spent their summer months on Nantucket Island.

A direct descendant of the founders of Nantucket and its whaling industry, Miles maintained an important collection of whaling and Coffin family memorabilia in his family’s historic Main Street house, built by his great grandfather and whale ship owner, Henry Coffin, in 1834. Miles was known for his special tours in which he would regale friends and visitors with stories about the history of the house and the island.

Miles will be remembered for his intelligence, kindness, and humor to all who knew him. He was an authoritative and humorous raconteur, an accomplished racquet sports player and an avid bridge player. A loyal and devoted friend, Miles was a member of many social organizations including the Chevy Chase Club, Nantucket Yacht Club, Nantucket Wharf Rat Club, Metropolitan Club and an informal group of friends he called the “Bar Trash” at the Chevy Chase Club.

Miles is survived by his wife Kate Clark and his children Mary (Nisi) Hamilton (Chris) and Tristram Carlisle and his grandchildren, Miles, Eliza, Lawson and Lydia Hamilton, as well as his nephew, Michael Carlisle. Miles was predeceased by his first wife, Margo Duer Black Carlisle and his older brother Henry C. Carlisle, Jr.

Donations in Miles’ honor may be made to the Nantucket Historical Association: Development Department, Nantucket Historical Association, P.O. BOX 1016, Nantucket, MA 02554 or online at https://nha.org/join-give/giving/give-to-the-nha/

A service celebrating Miles’ life will be held at a later date.