Benjamin D. Williams III ’57

Another oarsman has joined his deceased shell-mates. Ben died in his longtime home of Pomfret, Conn., March 7, 2023. 

He came to us from St. Paul’s School. At Princeton, he majored in sociology, played freshman football and hockey, and earned his frosh numerals and varsity “P” for four years on the heavyweight crew. He was active in the Campus Fund Drive and the Marine Platoon Leader Corps, and was a member of Ivy Club. He roomed with Al Beveridge, Gerry Hackney, Dave Robinson (a fellow crew member), and Fred Reynolds.

While serving in the Marine Corps with Miller Ream and Dave Robinson, they spent time in Washington, D.C., as part of the honor guard protecting the president. Dave introduced him to Nancy Nielsen, whom he married in 1961. They had three sons, Benjamin IV, Frederick, and Joseph. 

After his tour of duty ended, Ben had a brief stint in the brokerage business in New York before embarking on a long career in the educational field. He taught for many years at Pomfret School in Connecticut, during which time he earned a master’s degree at UConn. Later he became headmaster of Lawrence Academy in Massachusetts, where the current headmaster credited him with “transforming the school.” 

After retiring from Lawrence, he taught at Robert College in Istanbul, Turkey, and the Rivers School in Massachusetts. Retiring from education, he and Nan settled back in Pomfret. He became a well-known lepidopterist, eventually giving his collection gleaned from all over the world to UConn. He also rescued numerous wild animals and birds and served as a board member of the Wyndham Land Trust and Connecticut Audubon Society. In 2007, he rowed on the 50th-reunion crew. 

Predeceased by his wife, Nancy, in 2013, he is survived by his three sons and their families, and his brother, Rodney.