WILLIAM C. SCOTT

1934 - 2024

SCOTT--William Clement, III. William Clement Scott lll, born April 25, 1934 passed away peacefully in New York City on Sunday, July 7th. He is the son of William C. Scott, Jr and Susan (nee Cameron) Scott of Newburg, NY. Bill attended the Fessendon School followed by Phillips Andover Academy. During his first year at Andover the dean took him aside and told him if he did not become more serious about his studies he would not be returning for his second year. Duly informed and motivated he graduated cum laude after his four years. He credits his achievements in life primarily to this adolescent talking to. To pay this back, as it were, he was instrumental for many decades in raising funds for Andover so future generations could benefit from it's academic rigor. He is a lifetime member of the Thomas Corcoran Society Honor Roll recognizes long term philanthropy for it's institution. He matriculated to Yale, however, since the female persuasion was not present in New Haven during those years, he transferred to The College of William and Mary where he also graduated cum Laude. Following William and Mary, Bill and a college friend started an energy commodity trading business located in Toronto, Canada in the late 1950's. After an untimely downturn in the oil and gas business Bill returned to New York and took a position as a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton as a vice president. When there he worked on an account for the Cordura Corporation where he subsequently assumed a position of group vice president at their headquarters in Los Angeles. In 1973 he moved back to New York to become President of Western Pacific Industries under the guidance of his mentor Howard Newman. Under their stewardship WPI went public and acquired numerous manufacturing businesses in the U.S., Europe and South America. After a very successful period of growth and profitability Bill lead the sale of WPI in 1986 to the Danaher Corp. In search of his next business opportunity, in 1988 with the sponsorship of Warburg Pincus, Bill set about acquiring and restructuring Panavision and its numerous international film and television related production businesses as its newly appointed CEO. After nearly eight challenging and exciting years of reshaping and growing it's core business, Panavision, Inc. was taken public with Goldman Sachs acting as the lead underwriter and with Bill ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in November 1998. Approximately a year later Bill and Warburg Pincus were approached by New York financier Ronald O Perman with an offer to acquire Panavision Inc. and take it private once again. The deal was closed in June of 1998 essentially ending a nearly 10 year engagement of great success. Beyond his business and philanthropic achievements Bill was a committed lover of classical music and had a lifelong passion for opera. He served as President of Opera Orchestra of New York and past president of the Metropolitan Opera Club in New York where he has been elected as an Honorary Member joining a list of distinguished opera stars and empresarios. Bill has served on numerous boards in his lifetime with a focus on arts and education. In his retirement Bill and his wife Cindy of 43 years spent winter months in both NYC and Melrose, their home in Bermuda, and summers at Goosedubs, their home on Fishers Island, NY. He is predeceased by his sister Margaret Lemont of New York City and sister Jean Warden Dybdal of Great Falls, Montana. He is survived by his son David Scott and wife Chandra and their children Taj and Soliel of Park City, Utah, his daughter Katherine Larsen and her children Signe and Rafe of Portland, Oregon, his brother-in-law David Taylor and sister-in-law Tammy Sheridan and her daughter Olivia, many nieces and nephews, and his beloved wife Cindy. Bill had a magnetic energy about him and was always openly willing to share his life with family and friends. Of principled integrity, humor, charm, wisdom and endless generosity he lived life to the fullest and will be dearly missed by all he leaves behind. A memorial Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, September 18th at St Bartholomew Church, 325 Park Ave., New York City at 11am.