William J. Marsden

William J. Marsden Jr.

AGE: 62 • Avondale, PA

William J. Marsden, Jr. of Avondale, PA, age 62, passed away on October 14, 2017 following unexpected cardiac arrest. A Wilmington attorney, William is survived by his wife of 37 years, Ellen Jones Marsden, his children, Benjamin (Britta), Margaret and Emma, as well as his sisters Jo Ann Andren and Gloria Stavropoulos (Pete) and a devoted circle of extended family, colleagues and friends.

William was born to William John and Muriel Smith Marsden in Tenafly, NJ. He graduated from Haverford College in 1978 and then worked as an intern for the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington DC, where he met Ellen. William graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1983 and began working with the firm of Potter, Anderson & Corroon focusing on intellectual property law.

In 1999, William opened Fish and Richardson's Delaware office as its only attorney and one of three employees. In the eighteen years that followed, William expanded the office to employ dozens of attorneys and staff. Integrity, judgment and good humor were his hallmarks. According to his colleagues, he was the personification of all that is best in an American lawyer.

William's joy was landscaping his farm in New Garden Township. He was a devoted steward of the farm on which his children are the fifth generation. He gave freely of his time and treasure, and his volunteer responsibilities ranged from serving on Haverford College's Board of Managers to chairing New Garden Township's Zoning Hearing Board. Additionally, William enjoyed golf, was a curious and adventuresome traveler, and a lover of the arts, history and culture. His entire family depended on him, and his children and a host of nieces and nephews will lovingly remember him as the master of fun and games.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home (610-444-4116) at 250 West State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348. A Quaker memorial meeting for worship will be held on Friday, October 20, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. in the London Grove Friends Meeting House at 500 W. Street Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to London Grove Friends Kindergarten (London Grove Monthly Meeting, 500 West Street Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348). To view William's online tribute and to share a memory with his family, please visit www.griecocares.com.