William M. Chittenden Jr.

William M. Chittenden, Jr.
William M. Chittenden Jr. passed away peacefully on June 12, 2024, with his devoted wife, Penny, and daughter, Heather, by his side, in Montrose, Colorado. William, affectionately known as Bill, faced declining health with fortitude, buoyed by a strong will to live and an enduring sense of humor.
Born on December 26, 1931, to William M. Chittenden Sr. and Susan R. (Eliot) Chittenden in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was predeceased by his three elder sisters, Susan Barber, Mary Zonino, and Virginia Pierpont. Growing up in Naugatuck, CT, he cherished summers spent along the shoreline in Clinton and Madison.
As a youth, Bill attended McTernan School in Waterbury, CT, followed by Westminster School in Simsbury, CT, where he excelled in baseball and served as the quarterback of the football team. Following graduation, he pursued higher education at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, graduating in 1954. At Wesleyan, he expanded his passion for sports to include squash and became an active member of the fraternity Psi Upsilon.
Fond of recounting humorous anecdotes from his college days, Bill often entertained friends and family with tales of antics shared with his fraternity brothers. During his collegiate years, he attended Officer Candidate School and subsequently served during the Korean War. While he cherished his time in the Navy, Bill transitioned to the family insurance business after the war, working at The Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, CT. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Penelope (Penny) Beach, by serendipitously crashing a party at her house in West Hartford. Later, he joined his father's business, establishing a Chittenden Insurance branch office in Clinton, CT, where he also worked in the local real estate market.
Bill and Penny raised their five daughters in Clinton, CT, where they resided for 60 years before relocating to Venice, Florida. A devoted father, Bill bestowed each of his children with a special nickname, which he lovingly used throughout their lives. He is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Penny, and daughters, Hilary (Dutch), Poppy (Jim), Heather (Ronald), Melanie (Stewart), and Alison, as well as nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.