Richard Williams ’65 *68

“Buck” Williams died Dec. 15, 2012, from cancer at home in Onondaga Hill, N.Y., surrounded by his family.

Born in Washington, D.C., he came to Princeton from Ridley Park High School near Philadelphia, where he was photography editor of the yearbook and played varsity basketball and track. At Princeton he majored in aeronautical engineering, ate at Campus, and was a member of the Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He received a master’s degree in engineering from Princeton and a Ph.D. in oceanography from Oregon State University.

Buck spent his career in the Syracuse, N.Y., area at GE, Martin Marietta, and Lockheed Martin. After retirement, he focused on volunteer work, hiking, and
gardening.

He is survived by Carole, his wife of 47 years; daughters Carrie Hassett, Katie Mersch, and Kristine Williams; brother Jeff; and grandsons Owen and Emmett Hassett. In a writing composed not long before his death he, typically, expressed concern more for the anxiety and pain his condition was causing to his family than any personal issues, stating, “What matters is character, integrity, empathy, sense of humor, family, friends.” The class extends condolences to his family on the loss of this quiet, dignified and deeply reflective man.