Tilton, N.H. —
Bill graduated from Lebanon High School in 1951, President and salutatorian of his class. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College in 1955 and from the Tuck School in 1956. Bill then served two years in the Armed Forces, stationed in France.
Following his return home, Bill married Judith Brown, of Lebanon, and began an illustrious career in marketing. Bill and Judy moved to New York where Bill worked for Colgate-Palmolive throughout the 1960’s. Bill was then hired by Salada Foods, Inc., where he was named President in 1970. Following Kellogg’s purchase of Salada, Bill was named Advertising Manager for Kellogg’s in 1976. After moves to Massachusetts for Salada, and Michigan for Kellogg’s, Bill returned to New York in 1977 to work for Seagrams and was named President of Joseph E. Seagram, U.S.A., in 1982. Subsequently, Bill ran a private marketing consultancy until his retirement and move back to New Hampshire in 1998.
In his private life, Bill was father to three daughters, Amy and Melissa with his first wife, Judith, and Jenna, with his second wife Cheryl, formerly of Montreal. He was an avid sailor, sports car aficionado and spent many hours meticulously re-caning chairs and refinishing fine antiques. He also had a special place in his heart for his cats and bacon cheeseburgers.
Bill is predeceased by his former wife, Judith (Brown). He is survived by his daughter Amy Wilbur and her sons Jacob and Emmett Blau of Bedford, N.Y.; his daughter Melissa, her husband David Greenwood and their daughters Anna and Juliet, all of Concord; and his former wife, Cheryl Sternberg, of New York, N.Y., and their daughter Jenna Wilbur, of Seattle, Wash.
The family will gather privately to celebrate Bill’s life at a later date. The family is grateful for the condolences, but declines flowers and donations.