William McLaren Bristol III

William McLaren Bristol, III
Newtown, PA
William McLaren Mac Bristol, III, a former executive at Bristol-Myers Company, Chairman Emeritus and Life Trustee of Hamilton College, and generous benefactor to numerous individuals and organizations, died on the morning of Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at his home in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He was 88. The cause of death was metastatic lung cancer. Mr. Bristol spent his entire professional life with the Bristol-Myers Company, retiring as Executive Vice President, and was the third generation to lead a company founded by his grandfather in 1887. During Mr. Bristol's tenure, Bristol-Myers grew from a mid-sized drug company to become one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. He also served as President of the Proprietary Association. Aside from his family, Mr. Bristols greatest love in life was Hamilton College. He graduated in the class of 1943 and spent the rest of his life in service to his alma mater. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for over fifty years and served as Chairman from 1977 to 1990. During his tenure as Chairman, he spearheaded what was then the largest capital campaign in the Colleges history, concentrating throughout his years on the Board on increasing the endowment while enhancing the physical plant and campus environment. Mr. Bristol also focused his and his familys giving on financial aid, thereby opening Hamiltons doors to many who would not otherwise have been able to attend. Mr. Bristol was a fifth generation Bristol to attend Hamilton and was proud to be succeeded by a son and three grandchildren. His great-great-great-grandfather, Joel Bristol, was one of the Colleges original trustees. William McLaren Bristol, III, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 24, 1921. He attended the Pingry School, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, subsequently serving as a trustee from 1959 to 1985 and ultimately as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bristol matriculated at Hamilton College in 1939, where he majored in Latin and earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He left Hamilton before graduation in 1943 to serve in World War II as a member of The United States Marine Corps. Mr. Bristol fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, served as a member of the occupation forces in Japan and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1946. Mr. Bristol is survived by his beloved second wife, Mary Jayne Comey, whose love of Mr. Bristol embraced family, Hamilton and professional football. His first marriage, to the former Dorothea Tilton, ended in divorce. Mr. Bristol is also survived by his four children, Pamela Bristol of Ringoes, New Jersey, Brian Bristol of New York, New York, Madeleine Pinny Kuckel of Deansboro, New York, and Sanford Sandy Bristol of Summit, New Jersey, as well as his seven grandchildren, Nicholas Kuckel, Monica Odening, Nathaniel Bristol, Courtney Odening, Abigail Bristol, Scott Odening and Samuel Bristol. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, August 27, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 654 Hatboro Road, Richboro, PA 18954-1039. A Memorial Service will be held at Hamilton College at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Local arrangements by Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc., 35 College St., Clinton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mac Bristol Fund at Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, New York 13323 and San Domenico School, 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, CA 94960, Attention Sister Gervaise Valpey, O.P.