Wilson Wilde Obituary



Wilson Wilde of East Boothbay, ME died in his home on Ocean Point Road, East Boothbay, ME on Monday morning (November 25, 2013) surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and devoted spouse Joan. Wilde was born in Hartford, CT in 1927, and vacationed every summer of his 86 years at the Wilde family property overlooking Linekin Bay, East Boothbay. He attended Loomis Chaffee, Williams College, and Swathmore College. He entered US Navy Air Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL immediately following high school graduation in 1945. Wilde served during the end of World War II and later aboard an aircraft carrier during the Korean War. He enjoyed a successful career in the insurance industry, he worked for more than 40 years at HSB Group, Inc. a global property casualty insurer in Hartford, CT. He joined the company's Investment Department in 1953 and rose to become the company's Chief Executive Officer in 1971 at the age of 43. He served as HSB's CEO for 23 years, overseeing the company's rapid growth and leadership in the Property/Casualty industry. In summarizing Wilde's career, a 1994 editorial in The Hartford Courant observed "[i]n the 23 years that he has headed Hartford Steam Boiler, the once narrowly focused firm has increased its assets by almost 500 percent, its revenues by more than 850 percent and the return on its stock by almost 2,000 percent." In 1990, Financial World magazine named him the Insurance Industry's "CEO of the Decade." Wilde devoted much of his life community service initiatives and organizations in Connecticut and in Maine, serving as Chair of the Board of the Connecticut Historical Society, the Advisory Council of the Florence Griswold Museum, the Greater Hartford United Way, The Connecticut Governor's Residence Conservancy, and the Old State House Association. Additional Boards included Shawmut, Hartford National, The Phoenix, General Re, Genrad and Emhart. As a devotee of the arts, a collection Wilde developed at HSB is a well-regarded collection of CT impressionists and can now be seen at the Florence Griswold Museum. Wilson Wilde dedicated a substantial portion of his life to The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, CT which he attended as a student and later served on its Board of Trustees for many decades, including 10 years as its Chairman. Following his retirement from HSB Group as Chairman in 1994, Wilde built two houses on property adjacent to the original Wilde family summer property in East Boothbay, and moved with his wife Joan to Maine full time during the year prior to his death. In his retirement years, Wilson was surrounded by many friends in and around East Boothbay Maine and was a passionate fan of the Boston Red Sox, and zealously enjoyed the team's three World Series Championships in 2004, 2007, and 2013. Wilson Wilde is survived by his wife Joan of East Boothbay, Maine. He was predeceased by his eldest son Stephen Wilde who passed away in 2006. He is also survived by his son David W. Wilde of Hollis, NH, his daughter Elisabeth L. Wilde of Farmington, CT and his son Richard A. Wilde of New York as well as seven grandchildren: Tucker Wilde, Skyler Wilde, Eben Wilde, Kyle Johnson, Ryan Wilde, Tyler Wilde, and Christopher Johnson. In Lieu of Flowers memorial donations may be made to the Boothbay Harbor YMCA, http://www.boothbayregionymca.org/, or to the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, http://www.boothbayoperahouse.com/. You are invited to share your condolences, memories, and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington, and Hall Boothbay, ME

Published by Hartford Courant on Dec. 2, 2013.
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JOAN, WHAT A MAN, WHAT A LIFE! WHAT A LOVE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU! YOU WERE DAZZLING TOGETHER AT SOCIAL EVENTS, BUT OH, SO DOWN TO EARTH, KIND, GENEROUS TO OTHERS AND FUN TO BE WITH. HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU, HIS LIFE-LONG LOVE, HIS JOAN AND HER LOVE OF FLOWERS AND PEOPLE AND SO ABLE TO BEAR THE LIFE OF BEING BEFORE OTHERS MORE THAN IS NATURALLY ENJOYABLE--YET WITH SUCH CONSTANT GRACE AND WITH AND SOFTNESS OF SPIRIT--HUMILITY.

yOU ARE MOST LOVED, JOAN. WHAT A WONDERFUL, WITTY, LOVELY, EFFECTIVE,POISED AND NATURAL HELPMATE ALWAYS!

LOVE AND HUGS, SKIP'S WIFE jANE

JANE LEWIS

December 10, 2013

Mrs. Wilde & Family,

The Board and staff of the CT Historical Society wish to express our condolences on your profound loss. Bill was a true champion of Hartford institutions who will truly be missed. He absolutely made the city a better place. Stay strong.

Kevin Hughes

December 4, 2013

Joan,
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember that you and Bill were faithful supporters of the Hartford community and over the years attended many of our Tocqueville Society dinners for United Way. Bill was chair of the United Way Board in 1976-77 and received United Way's highest recognition for volunteer achievement, the Community Service Award, in 1978.
You and Bill are very fondly remembered.
Susan Dunn
President and CEO
United Way of Central and Northeastern CT

December 3, 2013

We remember Wilson fondly from his more active days at the Universalist Church.
Condolences to the family.
Dave and Betts Bradley

December 3, 2013

Joan,

I am so sorry for your loss. I will remember him as a strong leader at HSB and the same leader at Loomis Chafee while my sons were students. Peace to you and your family.


Sharon Kelley, Avon, Ct.

December 2, 2013

Thoughts and prayers with the family. I met Mr. Wilde while a student at Loomis Chaffee and remember him fondly.

December 2, 2013

Bill was a fine man and a great leader from whom I learned a lot. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and associates as they mourn his passing.

Murray Wells

December 2, 2013

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