William H. Kirby

1929 - 2026

William H. Kirby
03/26/2026
William Hale Kirby was born in Rutland, Vermont, February 25, 1929. He was the son of the late Wallace Myers Kirby and Wilmah Vaughan Kirby. "Bill" was most recently living at the Meadows in Rutland, died on March 26, 2026. He leaves behind his wife Zoe Birren Kirby, to whom he was married for more than 65 years. They have three children; Ellen Kirby of Dorset, Vermont, Thomas Hale Kirby of Killington, Vermont and Anne Birren Kirby of Killington, Vermont and Boston, Massachusetts and his four grandchildren; Maxim and Lucas Alvarez and Caroline and Wallace McKeon. He was predeceased by his sister Sibyl V. Kirby of Rutland and his son-in-law Brian F. McKeon of Dorset.
He attended Rutland public schools and the Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, class of 1947. Bill attended Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, class of 1952 with a B.A. in Economics and graduated in 1955 after being drafted in the Korean War and stationed in Vienna, Austria. He left Vermont later that year to begin his career on Wall Street in New York City. There he met his wife Zoe and they married in 1960. Bill spent more than 40 years as a retail stock broker. He was an officer with Laidlaw & Company, a partner at Whitney Goadby, an officer at Bacon Whipple, and a Sales Associate with Stifel Nicolaus & Company. He was a member of the Downtown Association, the Union League Club and the Princeton Club.
His interest in American History and Genealogy led to membership in the Sons of the Revolution Society, owners of Fraunces Tavern in New York City. There he was Chairman of the Color Guard and served on various committees. He also was descended from the Founders of Rutland, Vermont' Founders of Hartford, Connecticut, Saint Nicholas Society, and Colonial Wars Society.
In 1966 Bill and Zoe moved to New Canaan, Connecticut. There he was President of the Historical Society and a member of the investment committee. He was an active member of the Exchange Club and the Senior Men's Club both in New Canaan. He was always generous with his time and good spirit. Additionally, you could find Bill on the tennis courts at the Lake Club in Connecticut, picking blackberries at Wolf Hill, or skiing in Vermont at his beloved Pico where he was a member of the Otter Ski Patrol. He celebrated his 80th birthday with an all family run from the top. Bill was also a generous conservator to the Vermont Land Trust, in 2004 he donated nearly 300 acres of his Killington property to the organization. The effect was to provide an uninhabited bear passage in Central Vermont.
His loyalty to his family and friends will be missed. Bill's unwavering kindness to others has been an example to all. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.