William L. Coleman 100

William L. Coleman

Jaffrey, NH - William LeFebvre Coleman (Bill), 100, passed away peacefully at his home in Jaffrey, New Hampshire on January 15th, 2025, surrounded by his family. Bill was born August 7th, 1924, in Avon, Connecticut, to Eleanor LeFebvre Coleman and Raymond Coleman. Bill and his younger brother Ed, were raised in Bristol, Connecticut, spending most weekends and summers at their maternal grandparents home and farm in Collinsville, CT.

Bill graduated from Bristol High School in 1941. During his freshman year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), he enlisted in the Army Airforce and spent the next years training to be a fighter pilot, flying the P-47 Thunderbolt, and becoming a lieutenant. After the war ended, he returned to RPI where he got a degree in mechanical engineering (Class of 1949), was president of his class, played on the RPI lacrosse team (which represented the US in the 1948 London Olympics and earned him and his team mates a bronze medal), was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and met the love of his life, Mildred (Billie) Blythe, on a blind date skating in 1947.

Bill and Billie were married June 14th, 1950 in Cortland, NY and eventually settled in Jaffrey, NH where they raised their family, and hosted many memorable gatherings at their home in Jaffrey Center. With the help of his initial investor and cousin D.D. Bean, he started Bean Fiberglass with Joseph (Joe) Manning in 1957, which he was the president and CEO of, until he sold the company and retired in the 1990's. He was a pioneer of the fiberglass industry and worked primarily with boat builders, many of which became lifelong friends. He also had a keen interest in finance and served on the board of the Peterborough Savings Bank for many years. In 1966, he designed and built a one of a kind fiberglass house on Swans Island, Maine; where he summered with his family every year after. He and Billie were both avid sailors, and spent many months aboard their boats, cruising the coast of Maine and Virgin Islands, in addition to countless day-trips and overnights with their children, grandchildren, and friends to the surrounding islands.

Bill remained active his whole life, refereeing men's collegiate lacrosse into his 70's, skiing until his late 80's, and boating into his 90's. He was an accomplished musician, playing renaissance and baroque music in trios, quartets and quintets with Billie for many decades, and played the piano daily right up to the last days of his life.

His 100th birthday coincided with the 200th anniversary of RPI, and the summer Olympics, which prompted a visit and an interview with the President of RPI, Marty Schmidt. A couple of months after he was also interviewed by USA Lacrosse Magazine, who ran a story on "the Last Living Lacrosse Olympian" in advance of lacrosse being reintroduced in the next summer Olympics.

Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife Mildred (Billie) Coleman and his brother Edward Coleman. He is survived by his daughters Blythe Coleman of Swanzey, NH, Betsy Potter of Jaffrey, NH, Amy Coleman of Randolph, ME, and Margaret (Meg) Coleman and son in law Philip Bogden of Portland, ME; grandchildren Christopher Potter and wife Meaghan, Mary O'Neill and husband Brian O'Neil, and Cole Bogden; and great grandson Nolan Potter. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held June 21st at 1:00 PM at the First Church in Jaffrey NH. Contributions may be made in memory and celebration of Bill's life to The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

To share memories, photographs and condolences with William's family, please visit www.cournoyerfh.com