William Booth

William Arthur Booth

William Arthur "Bill" Booth, of Charlottesville, Virginia died peacefully on Christmas Eve, 2008, in the presence of his family after a brief illness.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cornelia "Dee" Wilson Booth, and a grandson David Joseph Sielewicz.

He is survived by his stepchildren, Joyce Wilson Sielewicz of Newport, New Hampshire, Jesse B. Wilson, III of Purcellville, Virginia; and a grand child, Michael Wilson Sielewicz of Newport, New Hampshire.

Mr. Booth was born in Wappingers Falls, New York on May 14, 1922. His family moved to the Baltimore, Maryland area where he attended secondary school.

He was a graduate of the University of Maryland. During World War II he was a pilot in the Army Air Corps and flew large cargo planes "over the hump" of the Himalayan mountains between India and China, at the time a dangerous mission.

After the war, Mr. Booth's professional career began in New York City as a publicist and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. He was later given those responsibilities for Virginia and moved to Charlottesville.

In 1960, he was appointed Executive Director of the University of Virginia Medical Alumni Association, a position he held until his retirement in 1992. During his administration as Executive Director he was instrumental in the creation of the University of Virginia Medical School Foundation in 1992, which he then directed, in concert with the Medical Alumni Association, as a fund raising organization for the medical school. Upon his retirement, he was named Executive Director Emeritus and was retained by successive Deans of the medical school, Robert Carey and Arthur Garson, as a consultant on medical alumni affairs, a position he held until his death.

Mr. Booth was widely recognized and praised for his ability to successfully cultivate the good will of the graduates and friends of the medical school resulting in contributions, which significantly enhanced the foundation's endowment. In addition he is credited with having secured substantial contributions directly to the medical school.

Mr. Booth was a good athlete, a swimmer and ocean lifeguard in his youth and a scratch golfer. In his prime, he was a frequent top contender for the men's golf championship at Farmington Country Club. His memberships in addition to Farmington, included the Commonwealth Club in Richmond.

Apart from his work with the medical school alumni and his golf, Mr. Booth took great pride and joy in the maintenance of the grounds of the family home on Barracks Road. His unique practice of lawn mowing on the front of the property produced a pattern that was remarked on by many who passed by.

A Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Virginia Medical School Foundation, P.O. Box 800776, Charlottesville, VA. 22908.

Friends may sign the online guest register at hillandwood.com


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.