William D. Glockner ’55

The only child of Mabel and Eugene Glockner, Bill was born Oct. 9, 1933, in New York City, and died Feb. 13, 2016, after a long illness.
Coming to Princeton from Hackley School, Bill earned a degree in mechanical engineering, joined Cottage Club, and was in the 1955 Triangle show. He enjoyed model railroading and roomed in 1879 Hall with Bond, Coker, and Wall.
After Princeton, he served in the Air Force and attained the rank of captain. He met the love of his life, Winnie, and they settled in the Society Hill area of Philadelphia, where they raised three boys. In the ’70s, Bill joined the O’Brien Machinery Co., where he worked for more than 30 years, pioneering power-generation solutions and opening the company’s United Kingdom operations.
Bill enjoyed all things nautical and was an adventurous world traveler with Winnie. They explored all corners of the globe, his natural optimism fueled by his experiences.
He is survived by Winnie, to whom he was married 53 years; sons William Jr. ’85, James, and Thomas; treasured daughters-in-law Susan, Alexa, and Rayne; and four grandchildren, whom he adored.
Paw in print

January 2026
Giving big with Kwanza Jones ’93 and José E. Feliciano ’94; Elizabeth Tsurkov freed; small town wonderers.


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