William N. Bucklin III

1930 - 2016

William N. Bucklin III Age 85, an avid sportsman and San Francisco businessman, died peacefully at his home in Mill Valley, California, after a six-week illness. Born in Pasadena on April 6, 1930, to Theodora and William (Jack) Bucklin, Jr., Bill was the youngest of three boys. He attended The Thacher School, and on Sundays rode his horse, Caneo, to church. In 1952, he graduated from UC Berkeley, majoring in history. While in college, he served in the Naval Reserve. For many years Bill worked as a stockbroker, first at Mitchum Jones and then at L.F. Rothschild, before starting his own business, specializing in oil and gas exploration. Honest and fiercely loyal, Bill was the rare man who knew himself and lived accordingly. Armed with a wry sense of humor and mischief, he was never afraid to poke fun at what he deemed pretentious. A lover of classical music and opera, he often said he'd wished he could have been a conductor or a violinist. A lifelong student of history, he read voraciously, especially World War II histories focusing on the European theatre. At his death, he had just finished Destiny and Power, Jon Meacham's biography of George H.W. Bush. In 1977, he married Linda Hale McIntosh and became the stepfather of Christian McIntosh. Together they had two sons, John and Nicholas. A man whose emotions ran deep, but whose pleasures were simple, Bill was happiest outdoors. He enjoyed bodysurfing in the cold Pacific without a wetsuit, bird watching with his father's binoculars in hand, casting a dry fly in waters from Montana to Argentina, and shooting a limit of ducks. His two youngest sons were amazed that when Bill was well into his 80's, he could still outshoot them. Bill had a great respect and love for all places wild. His idea of heaven was camping under the Montana stars with Linda, and his beloved Labradors nearby. In addition to Linda, Christian (Kris), John, and Nicholas (Marcela), Bill is survived by four children from his previous marriage to Anne Perrin, daughters Arden Bucklin-Sporer (Karl) and Katherine Bucklin (Tom), and sons Edward (Wendy) and William (Lizanne). He also leaves eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Bill's two older brothers, Edward Robbins and John Jervey, predeceased him. According to his wishes, there will be no formal service. Donations in his memory will be gratefully accepted by the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, and the Hoover Institute.