William Grimston "Bill" Mead

STILLWATER -- William "Bill" Grimston Mead, 84, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Stillwater, died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.

Mr. Mead was born in Brooklyn and spent most of his life in Brooklyn Heights. He attended Saint Thomas Choir School and Trinity-Pawling School. He graduated from Amherst College and received a law degree from the University of Virginia. He also served as a captain in the U.S. Army Rangers. Mr. Mead was a practicing attorney for over 35 years and worked at Haight, Gardner, Poor & Havens, Bristol-Myers, and Warner-Lambert during his career.

Bill and his wife, Mimi, divided their time between Brooklyn and their family home in Stillwater. A great lover of history and poetry, he was known for his intelligence, kindness and terrific sense of humor. Mr. Mead was considered by many to be a true gentleman and a man of great integrity. He was an accomplished guitarist, could speak four languages, and was a valued member of the Grace Church Brooklyn Heights choir for more than 20 years. He was also a longtime member of The University Club of New York.

Mr. Mead was the son of the late Phyllis Reid and George B. Mead. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Bill was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Mary-Chilton Winslow Mead. He is survived by their children, George W. Mead and his wife, Jane, of Milwaukie, Ore., Elizabeth M. Stowell and her husband, William, of Darien, Conn., and Malcolm G. Mead and his wife, Kathleen, of Bainbridge Island, Wash. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Eleanor and William Mead, Carl and Timothy Stowell, and Angeline and Nathaniel Mead.

Graveside services will be held at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, in Stillwater Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Smith-McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton.

A memorial service is being planned for a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross, 209 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, NJ 07004 or Americares, 88 Hamilton Ave., Stamford, CT 06902. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.