William Martin Auwood

11/25/1927 - 6/21/2022

Quaker Hill - William Martin Auwood, 94, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully June 21, 2022. Bill was the beloved husband of Ruth (Hartman) Auwood who passed July 19, 2019. The shared sixty-seven blessed years of marriage. They made Quaker Hill their home for sixty-five years.

Bill was born Nov. 25, 1927, in Uncasville, son of the late Walter J. Auwood and Helen (Cutone) Auwood. William attended Chapman Tech and shortly after enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He then ventured to Hollywood, California to pursue his love of photography and motion pictures, which began after his father gave him a movie projector as a gift. He worked at the Cinemabury film preservation and storage, where he met many producers, directors, and actors, who would stop in to pick up motion pictures to study.

Bill had to return home due to family circumstances. Bill then met the love of his life, Ruth. Bill would take his camera on dates with Ruth taking many photos. Unbeknownst to Ruth that the camera did not have any film because Bill could not afford the cost of both the date and the film.

Bill began a career at Charles Pfizer in quality control, at the time the department had only eight employees. He retired after 42 years of service. During that time Bill pursued his passion for photography and motion pictures. He photographed events for Pfizer, he filmed breaking news stories for Channel 3 news including the 1963 Norwich flood. Bill was also a wedding photographer, and in the summer of 1968, he was the photographer for Eugene O'Neill Theater.

Bill was co-owner of Coaches Film service in New London. He filmed for New London High and Ledyard High School football teams. He processed the film for all the area high school football teams and the Coast Guard academy. In the 1960s Bill also showed movies at the Giants Neck clubhouse during the summer months.

For over 60 years Bill always made time for community service. He served on the state PTA, Quaker Hill PTA, The Waterford RTM, and numerous other committees, too many to list. Bill ended his community service at the age of 91 when he resigned from the Waterford police commission, a job he loved dearly. Bill was also a justice of the peace and honorably officiated the weddings of four of his grandchildren. Bill and Ruth always loved to travel and were able to travel the world with family and friends.

Dad was a wonderful, gentle, loving, generous man. He loved his country, his town and most of all he loved his family and friends. He was the most loving, fun grandpa ever and will be deeply missed.

Bill is survived by his daughters, Nancy Laro and her husband Dr. Kenneth Laro of Old Lyme and Kathleen Hill and her husband Peter Hill of Springfield, Va. Also surviving him are his eight grandchildren, Gregory Hill (Beth), Timothy Hill, Julia Piechsner (Paul), Meghan Hill Parezo, Dr. Joseph Laro (Laura), Kyle Laro (Shannon), Kaley Manierre (Vincent), and Bree Ostrowski (Evan). Bill was also a loving great-grandpa to his nine great-grandchildren. Bill is survived by his loving brother Joseph Auwood; his cousin Janet Hesser; and several loving nieces and nephews.

Bill was predeceased by his wife Ruth; his sister Elizabeth Bresser; half-brother James Auwood; and half-sister Virginia Waido Gibson.

Bill always supported many charities and causes. Memorial donations may be made to any charity that is meaningful to you. Thank you.

There will be a funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 2, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home located at 48 Grand St., in Niantic. Interment will follow in Jordan Cemetery. There will be a calling hour Saturday morning prior to the service.