WILLIAM HESSELTINE PEAR II

PEAR, William Hesseltine II Died on February 4th in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was 87 years old. Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, he was the son of the late W. Wesley and Catharine Cusack Pear. He is survived by his sister, Ellin Royds, and by his brother, John and his wife Diana. He is also survived by his nieces, Catharine Pear and Lucy Pear, and by his nephews, Richard Royds and his wife, Arlene, Bradley Royds, and Carleton Royds and his partner, Christopher Steele. Bill's brother James, sister Mary; and brother-in-law, Richard Royds, predeceased him. Bill graduated from Middlesex School, Class of 1952, and Harvard University, Class of 1956. Among his many other affiliations, Bill was a member of the Nichols House Museum, and served on the Board of Governors as both Secretary and President. After completing his term as President, Bill accepted a position as the museum's first Resident Curator, a position he was to hold until his retirement some 20 years later. Bill was a past Director and President of Boston Harbor Associates, and of the Boston Preservation Alliance, and was a member of the Boston Public Library Examining Committee. He also served as Director, Treasurer, and President of the Gibson House Museum, and as Director and President of the Victorian Society of America, which presented Bill with a "Life Time Achievement Award in Preservation" in 2008. Bill was a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, and proud of his Irish heritage. He served as Director and President of The Eire Society of Boston, and was the Executive Director and an Honorary Member of the Boston Chapter of The Irish Georgian Society. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Irish Georgian Society, City Assembly House, 58 South William Street, Dublin 2, Ireland, D02 X751. Services will be held at a later date.