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William Townsend

William R. “Bill” Townsend, 92, was born in Montclair, New Jersey, on Sept. 27, 1931. Bill passed away quietly in New Jersey on Oct. 11. He lived in Deep River for many years until 2022.

Bill graduated in 1953 from Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, Sigma Pi, with a degree in psychology. After college, Bill spent three years in the U.S. Army as a Private First Class (PFC (T)). He was never in combat but developed technical and leadership skills in Virginia and then Germany.

Using his technical skills and a love for using his hands, his hobbies involved buying and fixing cars, boats, and furniture, as well as sets for a community theater group. Bill worked in Manhattan, New York, for many years as a financial advisor. Bill decided to go back to college later in life and graduated from Fairfield University in 1986 and became an assistant instructor. This led to other employment opportunities around the Deep River, Old Lyme, and Westbrook areas as an assistant teacher, job coach, and substitute teacher.

He loved swimming, sailing on Long Island Sound with family, riding his bike, exercising, walking along the beach or in the woods, taking photographs, and reading. Mystic Seaport was his favorite place to visit. He loved classical and choral music and hymns, as well as folk music. He was a member of an all-male acapella singing group. Having an interest in science and a deep love for nature, he was a honeybee advocate and a member of the Audubon Society. He loved model trains. Bill owned a small boat shop in Westbrook called The Dinghy Place in the early 2000s.

He spent most of his social life with his friends since 1996 at the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society (SUUS) in Madison as a teacher, serving on the board as treasurer, participating in fundraising efforts, and singing in the choir. He never hesitated to be part of his immediate environment. He also answered telephones at fundraising time at WSHU and was president of his condo association. Bill was a big supporter of Doctors Without Borders.

Bill has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Bill is predeceased by his father, mother, brother, wife, and ex-wife.

A private ceremony will be held.

Please make donations to Doctors Without Borders in his name.