William Adamson ’44

Bill, the twin brother of Talbot ’44, died Feb. 7, 2017, in Vero Beach, Fla.

He came to us from St. Paul’s School. At Princeton he majored in chemical engineering and was on the hockey, baseball, and 150-pound football teams. Bill was a member of the Undergraduate Council, was in Charter Club, and roomed with Tal.

Bill entered the Navy for two years, where he served as lieutenant junior grade and was involved in anti-submarine work. In 1946 he joined Bakelite Co. in New Jersey, and began coaching Princeton lightweight football. He was married to Ethel Ness from 1956 to 1958. In 1961 he married Helen “Lenkie” Angier and inherited four children. Together they had a son and remained married for 37 years.

After 18 years with Union Carbide, he started his own investment-advising firm, which he maintained until his retirement in the 1980s.

He restored and owned many vintage cars and was self-employed for 10 years. He was president of the Lightweight Football Association, sharing two championship teams with Coach Dick Vaughan. (Donald Rumsfeld ’54 was captain and a star player on one.) He was an avid athlete and loved to play golf with his wife.

He is survived by Tal; son Peter; stepchildren Leigh, Mac, and Don; and two grandchildren.