Part of the second graduating class from the Divinity School, he would go on to become dean of the faculty for the Divinity School in 1830. His bust is among those displayed in Annenberg Hall.

In addition, the house he constructed for his family--now in the shadow of Cyclotron Laboratory near Oxford Street--is owned by Harvard and still carries the name Palfrey House.

But according to Sean Palfrey--who is also a great-grandson of former U.S. president and member of the Class of 1880 Theodore Roosevelt--the "eclectic" group of interests that he and his wife will bring to the House is anything but stuffy.

A long-time sports lover and athlete, Sean Palfrey has coached soccer, baseball, squash and tennis for various area teams. Moreover, he said he did not expect city living to cramp his love of playing bocci, Italian lawn bowling.

"The Adams House lawn [in front of the masters' residence] looks like an excellent place for bocci," he quipped.

In addition, Sean Palfrey is a serious amateur photographer--even displaying some of his work on a personal Web site, at www.palfrey.com.

For her part, Judith Palfrey is a self-described "avid shellfisher" with a passion for drama.