William F. Matthews Jr. ’53

Bill died Nov. 5, 2023, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

He grew up in Upper Montclair, N.J., and graduated from Montclair Academy before coming to Princeton. He left Princeton at the end of his sophomore year and served in the Naval Reserve.

Bill married Ellen Robertson in 1956 and they lived, worked, and raised their family in Wilton, Conn. An electro-optical engineer, Bill worked for the electro-optical division of Perkin-Elmer and Hughes that later became Hughes Danbury Optical Systems. Many of his projects involved imaging laser radar (ILR) systems development. He was awarded a patent for an ILR invention and wrote numerous articles on the subject.

After taking early retirement, Bill and Ellen moved to Whispering Pines, N.C., in 1994. They later moved to Penick Village in Southern Pines, N.C. Bill was an active volunteer, leading the radio ministry for his church and serving in many roles, including president of the Sandhills Photo Club. He was named Volunteer of the Year three times at Penick Village.

Bill’s passion for photography began when he was 4 years old. His first job was taking photos for a real estate agent when he was 13. He photographed Broadway stars as a Princeton student and later was a medical photographer. In retirement, his photos frequently won awards in exhibits and competitions.

Bill and Ellen moved to Scottsdale in late 2021 to be near family. He is survived by Ellen, his wife of 67 years; their daughters, Susan and Mary Ellen; son William III; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.