William H. Gorham ’55

Bill came to Princeton from the Noble and Greenough School. He majored in the SPIA program, joined Dial Lodge, and roomed with Loring Heckman and Gene Phillips.

After graduation, he served in the Air Force, graduated from Harvard Law School, and joined the Boston firm of Goodwin, Proctor, & Hoar. Bill was named partner in 1970; his work helped lay the foundation for the practices of the firm’s private-equity and technology clients. Pragmatic, plainspoken, and a superb listener, he left a legacy well beyond revenue and excellent legal work.

His passions included travel with his wife of 48 years, Natalie; sailing; classical music; and golf (despite his putting).

Bill died March 2, 2015, in Jupiter, Fla. In passing to “the great reward,” as he put it, he joins Natalie; his parents, Anne and Arthur; and brothers Benjamin and Arthur. Surviving are Bill’s sister, Linda Harvey; son Steve; son and daughter-in-law Michael ’85 and Veronika Thiebach; and four unbelievably smart, strong, and beautiful grandchildren, all of whom inherited their grandfather’s sharp wit.