William Felton McLaughlin

1936 - 2022

McLaughlin, William Felton ALBANY Bill McLaughlin passed away peacefully in his home on July 25, 2022, at the age of 86, surrounded by family and overlooking a beloved view of Washington Park. Bill was a man who brought much joy to so many throughout his life. His sense of humor and commitment to bettering his community inspired and uplifted those around him and his loss will be felt deeply by all. Born in 1936, to Edward Manning McLaughlin and Estelle (Young) McLaughlin in Scarsdale, N.Y., Bill graduated from Scarsdale High in 1954, and Boston College in 1958. After serving as a captain in the Army, he began a career in finance, first as a bond trader on Wall Street and in North Carolina and Washington, D.C. with Reynolds & Company, and later in New York with First Albany Corporation and Loeb Rhoades & Co. Though trained in finance, Bill developed a passion for real estate and historical restoration that led him to switch careers later in life and move to Albany, N.Y., where he made a home and spent many joyous years in commercial real estate, developing projects that would bring beauty and functionality to the buildings in his neighborhood and the greater Capital District. Perhaps his favorite project was his historic home on State Street, that he and his wife Kate, lovingly restored over many years, and that to this day maintains the historic character of the city he loved so much. Bill's investment background also led him to become a co-founder of NYMED, a company which built and ran nursing homes. Devoted to involvement in the communities he so deeply loved, Bill gave back to those communities by serving as a trustee of Albany Institute of History and Art, Capital Repertory Theater, Historic Albany Foundation, Washington Park Neighborhood Association, Lake Saint Catherine Association, Hoosac School, Robert C. Parker School and parent trustee of Emma Willard School. As a board member, Bill brought years of experience in creative problem solving to find solutions to secure funding and balance good business practices with helping institutions stay true to their core values and ideals. Though never really embracing "retirement" as a concept, Bill was happiest spending time with family and friends over many summers at his home on Lake Saint Catherine, wintering in Florida and Aruba where he enjoyed relaxing with a good book and view of nesting birds, traveling with family, and delving into Italian culture while traveling with Kate and fellow patrons of the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College. Bill had a curiosity for the world that made him always want to learn more and ask questions of those around him. He cared about people's stories, and anyone whom he spent time with felt his joy when connecting with friends and family. What we all remember best about Bill was his sense of humor. It was infectious, eccentric and absolutely marvelous. Most often his greeting, even to the landlocked, was "ahoy matey!" He had a penchant for appropriately nicknaming objects, people and places and delighted in always using these names which stood as seals of his admiration and approval. People in turn assigned names to Bill, who was known by loved ones as Glocky, Woofie, Adirondack Dad (he's our lad!) and our Running Dog of Capitalism. In addition to his own kind of language, Bill also had a special cache of hats that friends and family will long remember. While fedoras were requisite for serious business, relaxed times called for a variety of chapeaux including an Australian pith helmet (for riding in "Reginald," his cherished Land Rover), a captain's hat for boating, a moose hat for grilling (to be worn with a superman's apron of course!) and a trout cap that won him the title "Uncle Fish Head." Bill would always joke about how patient we all were tolerating these absurdities, but the truth was they were the very thing that endeared him to us all. Visitors to Chickagami, his lake house for nearly 50 years, will always cherish memories of Bill's abilities to make everyone laugh. Fair winds, matey! You were a smart, generous and beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and brother-in-law. You were quite simply unlike anyone else and that is why we all loved you so! Bill was predeceased by his sisters, Joyce Lee, and Dorothy Leo. He is survived by his wife, Kate; son, Felton McLaughlin (Anna Taaffe) of Albany; daughter, Millis McLaughlin of Winston Salem, N.C.; daughter, Sarah Downing (Eric) of Los Angeles, Calif.; and grandchildren, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Ceiligh McLaughlin, Henry Petersen and Margot Downing, as well as many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank all of those who cared for Bill and have shown support and friendship over the years. They would like to particularly thank his team at Memorial Sloan Kettering and those from Community Hospice who treated him with such kindness. Plans to celebrate Bill's life will be announced at a later date. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Scholarship Fund, Robert C. Parker School, 4254 NY 43, Wynantskill, NY 12198, or the Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd, Albany, NY 12208.