William R. Moller

MOLLER, William R. William R. Moller, 83, of Pensacola, FL, died December 1, 2008 at Bridgeport Hospital. Born on February 5, 1925 in Manchester, NH, of father, William Robert Moller, and mother, Mary Paulina (Sloan) Moller. Bill's early childhood was spent both in New Hampshire and Florida. He graduated Nashua, New Hampshire High School and commenced his academic career at age 16 at Wesleyan University in Middletown. Shortly after the completion of his undergraduate degree, Bill was inducted into the Army. The Army quickly recognized his intellectual gift and sent him to the University of Nebraska, Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn) and finally the University of Michigan Medical School. Upon discharge from the Army, Bill left Michigan and decided on a career in the law. He was the youngest class member when he graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1949. He first practiced in Hartford, with Charles Stroh and then with J. Ronald Regnier. They built the firm of Regnier, Moller & Taylor and subsequently Bill left to start a new firm, Moller, Horton & Fineberg. He recently retired from Moller, O'Brien & Peck. Many of Bill's former partners were elevated to the bench, both Superior Court and Appellate Court. At Moller, Horton & Fineberg, Bill was instrumental in mentoring many young women attorneys and opening new avenues of practice for them. Bill was constantly on trial and quickly became known as one of the best trial lawyers in the State. He, therefore, was asked to provide the commentary on Civil Actions and Procedures for the Connecticut General Statutes in 1960. In 1960, he also commenced and completed the first annotated Practice Guide on Superior Court Civil Rules. Bill, along with his second cousin, the late Charles Moller and Albert Bill, taught the Connecticut Bar Review course, which prepared a generation of attorneys to successfully sit and pass the Connecticut Bar exam. Along with Attorney Bill, Bill started the Wethersfield School of Law as the third law school in Connecticut. The Wethersfield School of Law was moved to Bridgeport whereupon it became the University of Bridgeport School of Law and currently is the Quinnipiac Law School. Bill raised his young family in the Town of Simsbury where he presided as the Town Judge. He also was a founding member and helped establish St. Alban's Church in Simsbury. In 1962, Bill, Lou Ball and Charlie Rice purchased the Hublein Tower from the former Hartford Times and created Times Towers Estates. The following years, Bill, his family and friends enjoyed numerous parties and the gorgeous view of Connecticut provided by the Tower. In 1966, Times Towers Estates sold the Tower and 450 acres to the State, which is now part of the Talcott Mountain State Park. Bill and his family moved to West Hartford in 1966 where he became active in St. John's Church serving on the vestry and using his gentlemanly skills as an usher on numerous Sundays and holidays. He was President of the Hartford Bar Association from 1966 to 1967 and the recipient of the Connecticut Law School Alumni Award. He was also President of the University Club where Bill and other counsel completed the day's unfinished business in the "office". Bill also spent countless nights on numerous Connecticut Bar Association committees and was a fellow in the American Bar Association serving in the House of Delegates for two terms. He was a fellow in the American Board of Trial Advocacy and a member of the College of Trusts and Estate Counsel. He served on the Hartford Chamber of Commerce Aviation Committee as well as sitting on the Board of Governors for AAA of Hartford. As a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and the ABA, Bill traveled with his family around the United States and the world to numerous conventions. Bill reveled in the camaraderie of accomplished attorneys from other states. He loved convertibles, to dance and to his last day was ever present wearing a coat, tie and hat. Of all the places that restored Bill's body, mind and soul for the rigors of his practice was The Reefs in South Hampton, Bermuda, where Bill spent countless hours on its beach. He is survived by his sisters, Pauline Kolenda, Ph.D., of Berkeley, CA and Mary Brower and her husband, Ivan, of Stuart, FL. He is also survived by his two sons, Bruce H. Moller, his wife, Miriam of Bloomfield as well as Attorney Barry S. Moller, his wife, Attorney Gina A. Pasquini and his three grandchildren, Graham William Moller, John Sloan Moller and Colin Andrew Moller of Newtown. He is predeceased by his wives, Beatrice Herold Moller, Patricia Cotter Moller and survived by his former wife, Jeannette Carrozzella Moller, of Avon. He is also survived by his most patient and understanding paralegal, Jacque Ezell, of Preston. Bill was a man of extraordinary vision, accomplishment and generosity and always a student of the law. His puns, quips and learned insight will be missed by all that knew him. His contributions to the practice of Connecticut law will remain intact for years. Ever the trial lawyer, even to the end, he appropriately died during the 1:00 recess on December 1, 2008 at the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit, in Bridgeport. Bill's family extends its deepest appreciation for the professional excellence and specialized care provided by the members of the Burn Unit who unflinchingly did everything they could to promote Bill's recovery. A Memorial Service will be held at St. John's Church, West Hartford, CT on January 10, 2009 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at the Church. A private Burial Service will be held in Nashua, New Hampshire. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit, Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport; St. John's Church, West Hartford, or St. Alban's Church, Simsbury, CT.