William G. Winterer

1934 - 2016

William G. Winterer (1934-2016) William George Winterer, former owner of the historic Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut, devout Roman Catholic, fierce defender of free enterprise and personal liberty, raconteur, and philanthropist, died peacefully at his home in Boca Grande, Florida on 19 February 2016. He was 81 and had been in failing health for several months. Bill was born on 7 July 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Dr. Herbert O. Winterer and Dorothy Sprengnether. Bill graduated from the University of Florida and earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School. After University of Florida graduation, he became a United States Coast Guard officer and was initially stationed in San Juan, Puerto Rico on the buoy tender Sagebrush and then in New London, Connecticut where he was a navigator of the barque Eagle and ran the mess hall at the Coast Guard Academy. After business school, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona and then New York City where he was an investment banker for Goodbody & Company and later CEO of Florida Capital Corporation. In 1972, Bill purchased the venerable Griswold Inn and began a second successful career as a restaurateur and inn keeper. For twenty-five years he made the business thrive and expand, at one point including two other Connecticut restaurants in addition to "the Gris," the Town Farms Inn in Middletown and the Dock 'n' Dine in Old Saybrook. Bill's larger-than-life personality thrived - he was the ultimate host and entertainer, always putting others at ease, offering a smile and handshake, providing food and drinks and regaling audiences in stories for hours-on-end. He and his wife contributed to the communities in which they lived. Bill was a Life Trustee and Founding President of the Connecticut River Museum in Essex. He started the board of the Ivoryton Playhouse Foundation. He was on the board of advisors of the Goodspeed Opera House, the USS Constitution Museum, the National Maritime Historical Society, and United Bank & Trust Company. He sat on the Connecticut Historical Commission as well as the Boca Grande Historic District Commission. Bill was awarded the Connecticut Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1996. Bill is survived by his wife of nearly fifty years, the former Victoria Mather Thompson. He is also survived by his sons William G. Winterer, Jr. and his wife Emi of Boston; Andrew H. Winterer and his wife Shannon of Missoula, Montana; Britton T. Winterer and his wife Rosy Keyser of Brooklyn; and Mark Winterer and his wife Lauren of Winchester, Massachusetts. He is further survived by two sisters - Suzanne Winterer Camp of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Rosemary Winterer Pacini of Florence, Italy - and by five grandchildren - Winslow, Waverly, Harriet, Elias Fox and Josephine. He also leaves behind two standard poodles - Charlotte and Julia. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Mercy on Boca Grande at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 24th. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Island School Foundation, PO Box 1090, Boca Grande, Florida 33921 or a charity of the donor's choice.