William Clayton Torrey ’53

Bill died Feb. 21, 2020, at his home in Phoenix, Ariz.  

He was born in Detroit, Mich., but his family moved soon after to Bermuda and then to Connecticut. Bill came to Princeton from Ridgefield High School and Phillips Academy. He joined Colonial Club and majored in history. After graduation Bill served in the Navy for two years as a communications and intelligence officer in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.  

He then moved to Phoenix and earned a master’s degree to become a certified public accountant and joined the firm of Peat Marwick & Mitchell as a general partner. In 1970 Bill became chief financial officer of Dahlberg Industries. In 1980 he moved to private practice as a CPA and continued in that role until his retirement in 1995.  

He was active in the community as a member of the board of trustees of the Phoenix Country Day School and Paradise Valley Country Club. He was also a long standing patron of the Arizona Classic Jazz Society and major supporter of their annual jazz festival. 

Bill is survived by his three children and three grandchildren.