WILLIAM E. "BILL" NORTHFIELD Sr.

NORTHFIELD, William E. Sr. "Bill" Age 89, of Lincoln, NH, passed away peacefully, in Vero Beach, FL, on Sunday morning, August 13. Born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, he was the younger son and fourth child of parents, Elsie (Lawhon) and Harold Northfield. He graduated from Edison High School in 1952 and enjoyed summers boating on the Minnesota lakes. After high school, Bill studied electrical engineering at MIT in Cambridge, MA, earning BS & MS degrees as a member of the Class of 1956. While at MIT, his studies included internships with various units of General Electric. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and also rowed for the Institute. After serving in MIT's ROTC, Bill joined the US Army Signal Corps, and worked on Operation Hardtack which took him to the South Pacific in 1958. Shortly after returning stateside, he married Sandy Sabin of Mansfield, MA, and moved to the mid-west to help manage a family business in What Cheer, IA. After living in the mid-west for several years where his three children were born, the family settled in Arlington, MA in 1967. He was brought back to the Boston area by the opportunity to work with MIT classmates Ray Stata and Matt Lorber at Analog Devices. After ADI went public, Bill became a serial entrepreneur in the high-tech industry. From the 1970s through 2008, Bill founded his own companies and participated as an angel investor for various start-ups. In the Boston area, he worked with firms such as TechVen and Computer Devices, Inc. His expertise spanned innovation, marketing, mergers, product development and sales. Communications in all media captivated him, as did research at MIT's Koch Institute and other sites focused on health and technological innovation. Bill's final company, AIRSTAR Communications, provided satellite telephones for aviation, marine, and public safety applications. As an MIT alumnus, Bill was a member of the Cardinal & Gray Society and enjoyed attending reunions either in person or remotely. He was an avid follower of Tech Day activities and a proud alumnus of the Institute, especially so when his elder granddaughter graduated in the Class of 2012. Throughout his life, Bill was an avid lover of the outdoors. He particularly enjoyed hiking and skiing the many peaks and trails near his home in NH's White Mountains, camping in national parks across the US, and sailing along the North Shore or on Nantucket Sound with the Wianno Yacht Club when the family lived in Osterville. In later life, he enjoyed sailing along the Eastern seaboard from Maine to Key West and across to the Bahamas. When in Florida, Bill and Sandy were active members of the Riomar Bay Yacht Club and the Quail Valley River Club, both of Vero Beach, playing tennis for as long as possible. Bill returned to golf at the age of 87 and continued to enjoy tinkering with his cars. Bill loved his last boat, a 53-20 Fleming, as well as his earlier sailing vessels. Engine rooms and maritime technology particularly absorbed him. Having learned to fly while living in the mid-west, Bill also followed aviation, especially Experimental Aviation, and was a frequent visitor to the annual air show in Oshkosh. Bill and Sandy worshiped with The Community Church of Vero Beach of Vero Beach, FL and the First Congregational Church of Winchester, MA. They were active Deacons of the church in Winchester, and dedicated time to serve on various committees and church outreach initiatives in both communities. Bill is survived by his three children, Christy of Vero Beach, FL, Wendy Berman of Hana, HI and Bill, Jr. of Lincoln, NH; granddaughters, Kelechi Nwosu and Chiaka Nwosu of Vero Beach, FL; and grandson, Henry Lembeck of Boulder, CO. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Bill's beloved wife of 62 years, Sandy, predeceased him in 2020. He was also predeceased by his parents; and sisters, Harriet Stasick and Janet Carlsted; and brother Harold Northfield. A private Graveside Service was held at Crestlawn Cemetery, Vero Beach, FL. In lieu of flowers to the family, one may wish to consider sending donations in memory of Bill Northfield, Sr. to the following organizations, VNA Hospice House (Vero Beach, FL), Indian River Community Foundation (Vero Beach, FL), Community Church of Vero Beach, (Vero Beach, FL) or the First Congregational Church of Winchester, (Winchester, MA).

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