William Backes died Dec. 20, 2011, at home in Yardley, Pa., after a long illness.
Son of William W. Backes ’26, Bill came to Princeton from the Lawrenceville School, majored in English, and dined at Key and Seal. He managed the freshman baseball team, was in Whig-Clio, and was president of the Pre-Law Society. His roommate, John Sands, remembered, “When I met Bill 53-plus years ago . . . he was the brother I never had.”
He attended law school at Temple University. An attorney, he was the senior partner of the law firm of Backes & Backes in Pennington, N.J.
Bill’s wife of 47 years, Joy, said, “I have never known anyone more courageous. I started loving Bill when I was 17 and have been blessed to share so much of my life with him.” His son, Matt, stated, “All of my father’s achievements are artifacts of a life lived attentively and with care. This is what we mean, or should mean, when we speak of integrity.”
The class extends its sympathy to Joy; sons Matthew and Pierson; his sister, Nancy Walsh; and all family members.