GOLDEN William P. Golden William P. Golden, a Chicago native and D.C. attorney whose long career in federal service was inspired by his hero Robert F. Kennedy, died suddenly of heart failure on December 15, 2021 at his longtime home in Arlington, VA. He was 73. The proud grandson of four Irish immigrants to Chicago, William Patrick Golden was born in that city on June 1, 1948, the oldest of six children of Jack and Betty O'Connor Golden. Raised on Chicago's Northwest Side, he excelled scholastically in his Roman Catholic education and on baseball fields of city park leagues and was valedictorian of his class at St. Patrick's High School in 1966. In his senior year he set a Chicagoland Prep League record when racing to a cross country championship. Running for five decades remained his passionate, if less fast-paced, pursuit on the streets of Lyon Village in Arlington and wherever he traveled, until hip and knee replacement surgeries forced him into uneasy retirement. Bill's passionate interest in and reverence for American history and institutions, and a desire to play his part in public service in the stirring example of RFK and that other son of Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, led him to Washington, D.C. and Georgetown University, where in 1970 he graduated magna cum laude and earned Phi Beta Kappa honors. He graduated with honors from Harvard Law School in 1973. As he had at The Tombs and 1789 in Georgetown as an undergraduate, Bill worked as a bartender and server in downtown Boston to pay his first-year tuition at Harvard. He was aided in completing his Juris Doctor degree by Mary Jane (Janie) Kelly, whom he married in 1971 as a second-year law student. The couple, who had first met in Georgetown, returned to Washington and settled in Northern Virginia. Bill began what would be a 43-year career at the Federal Trade Commission. In the agency's Bureau of Consumer Protection, he did groundbreaking legal work to develop rules for funeral practices and pricing in spite of opposition from a powerful industry lobby, and to regulate children's advertising. He served the FTC in various stints across the country as acting director of regional offices in Chicago and Los Angeles and of the Consumer Protection Bureau's Division of Marketing Practices in D.C. In his last role as assistant general counsel, Bill directed the FTC's relations with state and local enforcement agencies and its response to public access requests under the Freedom of Information Act. He is survived by two brothers and their spouses, John and Sharon Golden, of Lowville, NY, and James and Rebecca Golden, of Shoreline, WA; three sisters and their spouses, Kay Golden and Thomas Hart and Betty Pat and Richard McCoy, of Glenview, IL, and Peg and Richard Nolan, of Madison, WI; his companion, Anne P. (Patty) Scott, of Arlington, VA; numerous nieces and nephews, and several cousins. Funeral services will be in Glenview, IL, on January 24, 2022 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 1775 Grove St. A church wake will begin at 9:15 a.m. CST, followed by 10 a.m. Mass. There will be no reception or public cemetery service due to Covid concerns. To view the funeral services online via livestream, visit https://bit.ly/BillGoldenMemorialLivestream. To view the funeral services online via livestream, visit https://bit.ly/BillGoldenMemorialLivestream.

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Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 3, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for WILLIAM GOLDEN

16 Entries

John Kinney

January 25, 2022

Like all of Bill´s family and many friends, I have been trying to come to grips with his sudden death. My most heartfelt condolences to Patty, Bill´s sisters and brothers and his nieces and nephews. And special thanks to Jackie for the impressive highlights of the Bill/Uncle Billy whom we loved with all our hearts.

I met Bill in the Fall of 1966 when we both arrived at Georgetown and lived with many other future friends on Fifth Copley. We shared Chicago area roots: Harlem and Addison/St. Pat´s/Shabbona Park for Bill and Joliet/Joliet Catholic for me along with a shared sense of humor that some have described as "wicked" and that also qualified as irreverent, I suppose. We became fast friends and, with Chris Reidy and Ray Dunn, later because housemates on upper Wisconsin Avenue (2232 for those of you who want to visit) where we aptly lived between a funeral home and LouRose´s deli (home of the battling Littmans), across the street from the deceivingly named Beef Palace (hint: not much to do with Bill´s favorite Italian beefs) and within easy walking distance of the Grog & Tankard with a whole cast of real-life characters. And not far from Glover Archbold park and some spirited "touch" football games.

We shared a love for the Byrds and their progeny (is there anything better?) and as sophomores often would sit in our adjacent palatial New South dorm rooms and play our respective tunes, often under the supervision of Nick RisCassi. As Jackie noted, Bill was an unabashed ambassador for Chicago and its music, especially the New Colony Six and Chicago with their St. Pat´s connections.

We certainly had more than our share of fun including several "row-rows" on the Potomac to visit the then endangered Three Sisters island which inevitably resulted in bad sunburns and various rashes from the fauna and the not so clean water.

As Jackie noted, even with Bill´s spirit for fun and adventure, he always made time for education, as reflected in his graduation with honors and Phi Beta Kappa from Georgetown followed by a stellar career at Harvard Law School.

Consistent with Jackie´s mention of Bill´s careful daily reading of the Washington Post, he was blessed with curiosity and a strong work ethic. Bill´s many achievements at the FTC continue to benefit all of us and tens of thousands of others. That Bill made time to be the Commissioner of Baseball is testament to his many attributes-discipline and order, a ready smile, contagious laugh and openness to new experiences. A legacy that should inspire us all.

Until we all can meet in person, please make time to enjoy an adult beverage of your choice (the King of Beers if you can) and toast Bill and a life well lived. Gone for a short time but never forgotten.

Ruth Donohoe Piper

January 25, 2022

I want to offer my sympathies and to thank the Golden family for arranging for the livestream of Bill's services. The funeral Mass and the eulogy were an extraordinary tribute to him. Bill was the best friend of my brother, Tom Donohoe. I'm glad we had such exceptional men in our families and that they shared a lifelong friendship.

Eloise Gore

January 24, 2022

I worked with Bill at the FTC at the beginning of my legal career. He was always kind and patient, never condescending or critical. His smile and wit were a pleasure to experience at every meeting or conversation. I was also a runner at that time and often saw Bill in his running togs. His brother Jack, today, in his incredibly moving eulogy told us many things about Bill that we, as casual colleagues, did not know. Learning more about him only made us sadder to have lost him, and yet grateful to have known him. One aspect that Jack didn't mention was how incredibly handsome Bill was. That hair, those blue eyes, and that glorious perpetual smile. Charming and sincere. It was wonderful to see that photo of Bill as Jack spoke, and to see the strong family resemblance. I thank the family for enabling Bill's friends and fans nationwide to attend the service and shed our own tears for the loss of a man such as Bill. Thank you, Jack, for bringing the whole of Bill alive for us.

Tom Sneeringer, Georgetown Classmate

January 24, 2022

I'm returning to this page because I don't know how else to reach Bill's brother. I want to thank him for the tremendous tribute he paid to Bill today at the funeral. (I watched the streamed video from Washington.) It captured every element we loved about Bill and added so much more. I'm sure it was hard to do but also clearly a "labor of love." It is deeply appreciated.

Jasmine and Spider Kelly's

Sent Flowers

Bob Krupinski

January 24, 2022

My condolences to Bill's family and friends. I had the pleasure of working at the FTC during Bill's tenure. I have fond memories of our "executive meetings" on Friday afternoons with other friends from the FTC. These weren't work meetings, but rather a time to get together and solve the problems of the world. There were also the good times at baseball games, both Nat's and Orioles. I was looking forward to doing some 12 oz. curls with Bill when I retired. I will be doing some in his honor. R.I.P, Bill. Say hello to Mike, Frank and Greg. Bob

Tom Schroeter

January 21, 2022

Bill´s passing hits hard and runs deep for many of us. Bill and I shared the same birth month and year, Bill having been born on the first day of June, 1948, and I on the last. He died of heart failure in December of 2021, just several months after I had quadruple bypass heart surgery. In 1969 Bill was my treasured running mate in the elections for Georgetown student body President and Vice President. Although the best candidate, Jim Clark, prevailed over me at the presidential level, I was deeply honored that Bill ran with me. Tom Sneeringer´s thoughts about Bill greatly reflect my thoughts as Bill was so admirably balanced in his life. He had a great, infectious smile and laugh, spending joyful times in his friendships. At the same time he showed great discipline in his studies (resulting in outstanding academic achievement and honors) and in working to help pay for his education. In this era when so many have moved from job to job over the course of their careers, I am amazed at his long-term commitment to and endeavors in his work at the Federal Trade Commission. Although after Georgetown, Bill and I went separate ways geographically, it´s hard to imagine a world without Bill´s smile, his laugh, his energy, his humility, his willingness (as experienced by me and reflected in the messages of others) to spend precious time aiding others. I looked up to Bill both literally (he was tall, me not so much!) and figuratively. Now with the great hope of our faith, I look up to heaven to see that smile and hear that laugh again, and I imagine the delight that our Lord must take in our dearly departed friend.
- Tom Schroeter

Mike "Bos" Boswell

January 6, 2022

Bill was and still is a special friend of mine. I can still remember the first time meeting him at a practice softball field in Arlington, Va. I had not decided whether to play on this team that consisted mainly of Lawyers but after meeting "Skates" (a nick name given to him by Dave Turtletaub for the way he ran to first base) and having a few beers with him at Joe's Bar I knew this was someone I would enjoy playing Softball with. From that initial meeting and the years that followed he became a cherished friend who I am going to miss until the day I die. This lapsed Catholic along with my wife Lee went to St. Peter's Church here in Beaufort S.C. and lit a candle for you Bill. God Bless you and keep my friend.

G. Richard Gold

January 4, 2022

I worked with Bill at the FTC in the Office of the General Counsel. He supervised me in various areas. He was always helpful. He was very smart and fun to talk with. We enjoyed periodic get-togethers after he retired and will miss seeing him. Rest in peace Bill.

Stephen W. Littell

January 3, 2022

Very sorry to hear of Bill´s passing. My heart goes out to Jack, Jim, Kay, Betty Pat, Peggy, & the rest of your family. Many bright memories of Bill´s good heart & great sense of humor from those early days in Cambridge. They broke that mold.

Paul Savercool

January 3, 2022

Although we were friends and only in touch in the 1980's, Bill's humor and leadership left an impression with me that has never been forgotten. The 1987 Alexandria Rec League Champs softball trophy is on my desk today and I'll always have fond memories of that group and our Coach Bill.

Tom Sneeringer

January 3, 2022

My deepest sympathies to Bill's family. News of his death struck his many Georgetown friends like a ton of bricks and so many great memories came flooding in. Bill was a fantastic classmate and friend. He somehow mastered the balance between disciplined and highly accomplished study with an unsurpassed capacity to have fun. He carried that balance throughout his life, achieving great professional success while maxing out on sports and friendships. He was also the best air guitar player of our cohort, specializing in the music of Roger McGuinn and the Byrds. His smile and laugh were contagious; and will stay with us all into the future.
It's a great loss for all of us.

Gary Schorr

January 3, 2022

Bill and I were colleagues at the FTC for many years. As we worked in different areas of the agency, we didn't spend much time together on official work duties. But we spent many hours playing softball and going out following games. Bill was such a great guy and was one of a kind. And he had the best laugh! I will miss him. Rest In Peace, my friend.

Frank Titus

January 3, 2022

RIP Bill.

Gene Curry

January 2, 2022

I worked with Bill and played softball with Bill. I consider myself fortunate to have been his friend. My heart is with his family and many friends at this sad time.

Monica Carter Etheridge

January 1, 2022

I first met Bill when I joined the Office of the General Counsel in 1989. He was my Supervisor a great guy and good friend. He always supported me in my dreams and life choices, family and friends Rest in Paradise my friend

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