William G. Allyn

SKANEATELES ­- William G. Allyn, 98, beloved patriarch and longtime president of Welch Allyn Inc., died peacefully Saturday, June 24, 2006, at his family"s home in Skaneateles, with the windows open, birds chirping, and family and friends at his side. The son of Welch Allyn founder, William Noah Allyn, William G. Allyn, or "W.G." as he was affectionately known, joined Welch Allyn in 1934 and became the company"s second president in 1947, when he took over the reins from his father, serving in that role until his retirement in 1971. During his tenure, Welch-Allyn grew to become of the world"s leading medical technology companies while at the same time maintaining the small-town family values that reflected W.G."s deeply held personal belief in treating all those around him with dignity and respect, no matter what their role in the company. His favorite saying, "be always kind and true," remains an ongoing inspiration and a challenge to the organization he loved. Since his retirement, W.G. had been a familiar face in the Welch Allyn hallways, making regular visits whenever he was in town. Over the course of the past few weeks, he toured each of Welch Allyn"s Skaneateles facilities in his wheelchair, greeting old friends and encouraging new acquaintances. The outpouring of kindness from his Welch Allyn "family" brought a continuing sense of connectedness to a man who dedicated his life to making life better for those around him. Although he retired to Naples, Fla. in the 1970s, W.G. had a deep love for his hometown of Skaneateles, spending much of the summer in the area and much of his time and resources supporting numerous community causes. The most recent example of the many community development projects to benefit from W.G."s infectious enthusiasm and generosity is the Skaneateles Community Center. W.G. conceived, formed and was the sole initial trustee of the Skaneateles Recreational Charitable Trust, the group that ultimately designed, raised funds and built the Community Center that includes the William G. Allyn Ice Arena. In addition, he was active on the boards of numerous academic, health care, business, community and athletic institutions throughout his life. W.G. was predeceased by his two wives, Sonya Finch Allyn, to whom he was married for 62 years, until she passed away in 1994, and Mignon Boyd Allyn, to whom he was married for nine years until she passed away in 2004. He is survived by two sons, William F. (Penny) Allyn and Lew F. (Dawn) Allyn, both of Naples, Fla.; one daughter, Elsa (Peter) Soderberg of Batesville, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. Not bad for an only child. Donations in W.G."s memory may be made to the Borodino Methodist Church or SAVES Capital Project. Services will be private. Welch Allyn retirees and employees are invited to meet with the family from 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 24, at The Lodge at Welch Allyn. Friends are invited to meet with the family from 4 to 6 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at The Lodge, 4355 State St., Skaneateles. Arrangements are by the Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles. To send a message to the family, sign our guest book at www.auburnpub.com and click on obituaries.