William VanDyke Glascock

1937 - 2023

William Van Dyke Glascock passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones on November 27th. Although Bill suffered from Alzheimer's, as was his wish, he lived independently for the past 4 years. Up until a few months ago he was still enjoying short walks and visiting with acquaintances from his 60 years in Larkspur. He was remembered by his friends and family for his integrity, loyalty and wry sense of humor. Bill was born in Beverly Hills in 1934 to Fred and Lilian Glascock. His father was a pediatrician and his mother was chief librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library. Growing up, Bill and his parents would escape the LA heat to their ranch in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest. He attended boarding school in Colorado at the Fountain Valley School. He received his Bachelors from Claremont Men's College where he met Jean Davis, his first wife. He served as an officer in the US Army at Fort Ord, California and Fort Bliss, Texas. Bill and Jean moved to Marin in 1959 where they raised their three children, Steve, Rick and Ann.Bill began his career as an agent for the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. In 1970 he founded his own independent insurance agency with his long time partner, Ken Downs. Downs & Glascock had offices in Larkspur and later in Terra Linda. Bill was an active member of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California and served as President in 1983. He was well-recognized and the recipient of numerous awards in the industry. He had a reputation for being honest and pragmatic. Bill had a strong sense of civic duty. He served as president of the Central Marin county chapter of the Rotary Club International as well as being a member of the California Heart Association and the California Society of Pioneers. Bill also served as the Kentfield Fire Department's Commissioner in the 1970s. Bill passed on his love of the outdoors to his children through frequent family backpacking and camping trips in the Sierras. During the summers of his high school years he packed supplies into forest stations in the Sierras on horseback. He was an avid surfer as a young man in Southern California, and continued to enjoy being on the ocean as both a sailor and fisherman later in the SF Bay. He spent time living on the Corte Madera Creek which conveniently gave him quick access to Bay. In 1983 Bill married Rose Gernetti and moved to Greenbrae where he and Rose lived for 35 years. They both loved dogs and raised a number of goldens, all named Chloe. After retirement he enjoyed a weekly standing game with buddies at Indian Valley Golf Course. He also continued to enjoy many boating adventures, including a cruise up the Hudson River, from NYC to Lake Champlain, and a cruise on Lake powell with his children and grandchildren. He chartered a number of boats and cruised in the San Juan Islands, BC with friends and family. Bill is survived by his wife Rose, his three children and six grandchildren Alex, Adrianne, Nick, Jason, Ashley and Diego. He is also survived by his extended family from Rose, including his 3 step-children Renee, Rick and Rhonda, 8 step-grandchildren, 6 step-great-grandchildren. There will be a celebration of Bill's life at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 25 at the Marin Art and Garden Center's Livermore Pavilion , 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA 94957. Memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association.