WILLIAM C. BIRDSEY Sr.

William C. Birdsey, Sr. September 26, 1911 ~ August 21 2009 Bill passed away peacefully at his home on August 21, 2009. He was born September 26, 1911 in Chicago, Illinois. The family moved to California and settled in Pasadena when Bill was a boy. He attended CalTech and received his degree in Mechanical Engineering which he applied during his career. Bill retired from Fiberboard Corporation as Vice President of Operations for California. After he retired he served on the Board of Directors of the Flintkote Corporation. Bill was married twice and was a devoted and loving husband. He married his first wife Betty Creswell upon graduation and they spent 23 years together. They had two children Betsey and Bill. After Betty's untimely death from cancer, Bill moved the family to San Francisco. There he met and married Jean Andre. They were married for 46 wonderful and loving years. Bill loved sailing. It was his passion in life whether it be racing or cruising he was truly at home on the water. He imparted this passion with family and friends through out his life. In his youth he built his first sailboat and plied the waters of Lake Michigan. After the family moved to California he built a Star. With Betty and the family in tow he cruised the Southern Cal waters. He frequently sailed to the Channel Islands, first on a 28ft sloop and then a 44ft schooner. It was on the San Francisco Bay that Bill started racing. He became a member of the San Francisco and Saint Francis Yacht Clubs. He acquired a Cal 40 "Seabird III" which he raced in the San Francisco Bay, the Trans Pac to Hawaii and up and down the California coast. If a race was scheduled Bill, "Seabird III" and crew were most likely there. In 1977 Jean and William embarked on a six-year sailing adventure. They purchased a Whitby 42 "SEABIRD V" and sailed all of the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and from Maine to Florida. They then brought the boat to British Columbia to complete their journey. In 1983 the St Francis Yacht Club awarded the Harter-Jacks Perpetual Cruising Trophy to Bill. Bill is survived by his sister Ruth Burr, children Betsy Fraser-Smith, Bill Birdsey II, Noble A. "Rocky" Birdsey, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at noon on Sunday, September 26 at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Tiburon. For more information call 415-225-6146. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in memory of William C. Birdsey to the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors, Pier 40, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94107. The family will match donations made in Bills memory. To inquire about matching donations please call 415-225-6146.