Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
William Shepard Obituary
William "Bill" Brown Shepard, Jr
William "Bill" Brown Shepard, Jr, 71, of Darien, CT and Naples, FL passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 29th surrounded by his loved ones after complications from immunotherapy treatment for recently diagnosed metastatic melanoma
Bill was born in Summit, New Jersey to William and Mary Shepard He graduated from The Pingry School and Wesleyan University where he had a long high school and college swimming career He passed on a deep love of competitive and recreational swimming to his children and grandchildren, and any Shepard family vacation always included being on the water
It was during college where he met his loving wife of 49 years, Midge, who came back the night they met and said to her friends "this is the first man I could consider marrying" After college they were married before Bill served a year in Vietnam as an officer stationed at a riverboat base He returned home safely as a decorated Navy Vietnam combat veteran
He then received his MBA from Columbia Business School and went on to have a fascinating international banking career that brought him and his family around the world During his 40 year career he embraced many cultures throughout Asia and the Middle East He started at Manufacturers Hanover in New York City and later transferred with his family to Tokyo, Japan They returned to the US where he worked at Irving Trust Bank before another international assignment in Saudi Arabia at National Commercial Bank He later returned and worked at Gulf International Bank in New York City He concluded his career in Houston as the head of US operations for Riyad Bank and retired in 2014
Bill's greatest pride and joy was his family and his life revolved around them He was immensely proud of the adults his children have become He adored his five grandchildren
He led a life of great joy and enthusiasm and found so many pleasures in living his life fully He enjoyed boating, gardening (and then frequently moving each plant in his garden to find its perfect spot, much to the amusement of his family), attending sporting events for his children and grandchildren, reading about history and countless other topics, being active in his church and volunteer communities, and observing shore life on the beach in Naples He was very active right until his passing and cherished his daily swims, bike rides, and beach walks with Midge
Bill was a shining light of love, positive attitude, gratitude and optimism that was contagious and will be sorely missed He recognized every day the many blessings he had in his life, including being the friend of many wonderful people His outgoing and uplifting personality gave him a unique ability to connect with and touch people from all walks of life He loved meeting people and to him strangers were just friends he hadn't met yet
He also found deep personal satisfaction and enjoyment in helping others, especially sponsoring, mentoring, and supporting those with substance abuse addiction, and volunteering in countless other ways He was particularly proud of his most recent volunteer role in Naples, FL where he worked with troubled youth at New Beginnings, a remarkable military influenced education program
Bill was an active member of St Luke's Episcopal Church in Darien, CT and Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, FL He was a member of the Country Club of Darien and the Darien Boat Club
A proud husband, father, and grandfather who will be missed beyond belief, he is survived by his wife, Midge, and their three children, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren: Trip and Tracy Shepard (Grace, Conor, Eric) of Darien, CT; Jay and Courtney Shepard (Jay and Blake) of Litchfield, CT; and Susan Shepard of New York, NY He also leaves behind two brothers, Dick Shepard of Holland, MI and David Shepard of Kingston, MA
A memorial service will be held at St Luke's Episcopal Church in Darien, CT on Saturday, June 9th at 4:30pm There will be another memorial service at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, FL in the fall
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donating in Bill's name to St Luke's Parish, 1864 Post Rd, Darien, CT 06820, https://wwwsaintlukesdarienorg/give-online; or New Beginnings Naples (care of Captain Peltz), 3710 Estey Avenue, Naples, FL 34104, http://wwwcollierschoolscom/domain/202
William "Bill" Brown Shepard, Jr, 71, of Darien, CT and Naples, FL passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 29th surrounded by his loved ones after complications from immunotherapy treatment for recently diagnosed metastatic melanoma
Bill was born in Summit, New Jersey to William and Mary Shepard He graduated from The Pingry School and Wesleyan University where he had a long high school and college swimming career He passed on a deep love of competitive and recreational swimming to his children and grandchildren, and any Shepard family vacation always included being on the water
It was during college where he met his loving wife of 49 years, Midge, who came back the night they met and said to her friends "this is the first man I could consider marrying" After college they were married before Bill served a year in Vietnam as an officer stationed at a riverboat base He returned home safely as a decorated Navy Vietnam combat veteran
He then received his MBA from Columbia Business School and went on to have a fascinating international banking career that brought him and his family around the world During his 40 year career he embraced many cultures throughout Asia and the Middle East He started at Manufacturers Hanover in New York City and later transferred with his family to Tokyo, Japan They returned to the US where he worked at Irving Trust Bank before another international assignment in Saudi Arabia at National Commercial Bank He later returned and worked at Gulf International Bank in New York City He concluded his career in Houston as the head of US operations for Riyad Bank and retired in 2014
Bill's greatest pride and joy was his family and his life revolved around them He was immensely proud of the adults his children have become He adored his five grandchildren
He led a life of great joy and enthusiasm and found so many pleasures in living his life fully He enjoyed boating, gardening (and then frequently moving each plant in his garden to find its perfect spot, much to the amusement of his family), attending sporting events for his children and grandchildren, reading about history and countless other topics, being active in his church and volunteer communities, and observing shore life on the beach in Naples He was very active right until his passing and cherished his daily swims, bike rides, and beach walks with Midge
Bill was a shining light of love, positive attitude, gratitude and optimism that was contagious and will be sorely missed He recognized every day the many blessings he had in his life, including being the friend of many wonderful people His outgoing and uplifting personality gave him a unique ability to connect with and touch people from all walks of life He loved meeting people and to him strangers were just friends he hadn't met yet
He also found deep personal satisfaction and enjoyment in helping others, especially sponsoring, mentoring, and supporting those with substance abuse addiction, and volunteering in countless other ways He was particularly proud of his most recent volunteer role in Naples, FL where he worked with troubled youth at New Beginnings, a remarkable military influenced education program
Bill was an active member of St Luke's Episcopal Church in Darien, CT and Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, FL He was a member of the Country Club of Darien and the Darien Boat Club
A proud husband, father, and grandfather who will be missed beyond belief, he is survived by his wife, Midge, and their three children, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren: Trip and Tracy Shepard (Grace, Conor, Eric) of Darien, CT; Jay and Courtney Shepard (Jay and Blake) of Litchfield, CT; and Susan Shepard of New York, NY He also leaves behind two brothers, Dick Shepard of Holland, MI and David Shepard of Kingston, MA
A memorial service will be held at St Luke's Episcopal Church in Darien, CT on Saturday, June 9th at 4:30pm There will be another memorial service at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples, FL in the fall
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donating in Bill's name to St Luke's Parish, 1864 Post Rd, Darien, CT 06820, https://wwwsaintlukesdarienorg/give-online; or New Beginnings Naples (care of Captain Peltz), 3710 Estey Avenue, Naples, FL 34104, http://wwwcollierschoolscom/domain/202
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Darien Times on Jun. 5, 2018.
Memories and Condolences
for William Shepard
How you can show support
Follow
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in William Shepard's name
Memorial Events
for William Shepard
People and places connected with William
Recent Obituaries
How to support William's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor William Shepard's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
