William Welleck Garretson (1934 - 2015)

Ancestors

Died 17 Aug 2015 at age 80 in Doylestown, Bucks County, PA, USA

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Biography

William Welleck Garretson passed away Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, at his home in Doylestown. He would have been 81 in September. He was raised in Scarsdale, N.Y. by his parents, the late Mary and W. Melvin Garretson. Bill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, an M.B.A. from Columbia University, and completed everything but his dissertation for a Ph.D. in Economics from The New School. After working summers through college selling explosives in rural Pennsylvania, he started his career at IBM, moved to the planning office of the Urban Development Corporation, and then the Economics Department of Citibank, where he enjoyed a long career and was a much in-demand speaker at economic conferences. After partial retirement he moved to mortgage appraisals. Following his full retirement, he remained active in the Philadelphia Council for Business Economics, serving as president for a year.

Bill was a baseball lover, die-hard Mets fan, and longtime softball player. He played on company teams during his career and recently was in several senior softball leagues, playing his last game for his team, The Grumpy Old Men, on Thursday, Aug. 13. Bill had a joy for life that was infectious to anyone around him and a sense of humor that everyone enjoyed. A nature-lover, he enjoyed hiking, climbing, canoeing, birdwatching and anything that let him be outdoors, including spending time at his cabin in the Adirondacks. He appreciated music of all kinds and cherished the companionship of his cat. He loved his family more than anything and will be greatly missed by all. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Jan Olsen Garretson; daughter, Susan Garretson Friedman (Charlie); son, Matthew Garretson (Sherry McClaine); his beloved grandchildren, Simon and Meadow Garretson; and step-grandson, Ian Friedman; as well as his older sister, Mary Louise Glass; and nieces, Suzanne Lynn, Sarah Glass, Mary De La Roca, Caroline Glass; and nephew, Garret Glass. Relatives and friends are invited to his memorial service 4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21, at Reed and Steinbach, 2335 Lower State Road, Doylestown, where the family will receive guests from 3 p.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be held privately. removes middle instory ad

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bill's name may be made to Peace Valley Nature Center, 170 North Chapman Road, Doylestown, PA 18901 or via the web site www.peacevalleynaturecenter.org.Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, Doylestown.

Sources

• The Intelligencer William Welleck Garretson obit, August 20, 2015

http://www.theintell.com/obituaries/intell/william-w-garretson/article_ba04af3d-6e0a-56b2-b707-ba1b8b51f88c.html