During his college career, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, Psi Upsilon, and Skull and Bones.
In 1926, Occidental College of Los Angeles made him an honorary charter member of the Delta chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
After graduation, Thacher moved to California and took up 160 acres (0.65 km2) of government land to plant an orange grove.
He stood as president of the Headmasters Association of the Pacific Coast Private Schools for Boys from 1930 to 1931.
He was an honorary member of the Headmasters Association of Eastern Private Schools for Boys.
Anson Stiles, and Sherman Day Jr., carried on the family Yale tradition, in 1925, 1927 and 1936 respectively.
Two of their daughters, Helen Sherman and Harriet Janet, attended Smith College (1930, 1934).
A Presbyterian, Thacher attended the Ojai Valley Community Church from 1887 until his death.