William Seavey

1930 - 2016

William Arthur Seavey

William Arthur Seavey, 86, son of the late Arthur and Dorothy Seavey, died on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, surrounded by his five children and the hills that he loved. A thoughtful man of great integrity, his life was characterized by tremendous devotion to his family, and a fascination with international affairs, politics, history, philosophy, music, farming, hiking, skiing, and swimming in California's cold surf.

Born in Los Angeles on August 28, 1930, he attended Coronado High School, Princeton University, and Harvard Law School where he met his future wife, Mary van Beuren, who was attending Radcliffe College. An accomplished jazz pianist, he wooed her by playing Cole Porter in the living room of her rooming house as he waited for her to descend for their dates. After wedding in 1955, they spent a year in Switzerland, where William studied at the University of Geneva and Mary gave birth to the first of five children.

The couple then moved to William's hometown, where he served first as Councilman and then Mayor of Coronado, and Assistant U.S. Attorney. In 1965, the family returned for two years to Switzerland, where William completed coursework for Docteur des Sciences Politiques and climbed Mont Blanc.

Upon their return to the United States, the family relocated to Piedmont, California, and William served for seven years as lecturer in international economics and law and assistant to the President of Mills College. He then practiced law in San Francisco with an emphasis on international matters. His clients included French wine interests, as well as a French art gallery and the Spanish artist, Joan Miro, in an art forgery case. He also served as a founding director and for many years Secretary of the French-American Chamber of Commerce, President of the Alliance Francaise, President of the English Speaking Union, and a long-time member of the board of directors of the French American International School.

Beginning in the 1980s, William and Mary focused increasingly on their hillside property at the base of Howell Mountain near Lake Hennessey in St. Helena. They replanted the pre-prohibition vineyards, restored an 1881 stone barn as a winery and barrel aging cellar, and founded Seavey Vineyard, which gradually became a renowned estate winery in Napa Valley, producing several thousand cases a year of critically-acclaimed wine. By the early 2000s, this land had become their home, where they enjoyed a return to nature and honest labor. Mary died in St. Helena in 2008, and William now rejoins her.

They are survived by their children, Dorothy, Arthur, William, Frederic, and Charles, and grandchildren, Sarah, Anne, Jason, and Coleman.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Land Trust of Napa County. Details about a memorial service will be shared at a later date.