William James Flather III ’39

Bill died of emphysema Nov. 26, 2002, at his home in DC. After service in the Navy during WWII on ships in the Atlantic and Pacific, he left the Navy as a commander and joined his father in the insurance business, later forming his own company, Flather & Perkins, specializing in fine arts insurance. He involved himself in many organizations devoted to the preservation of art and antiques, including the Friends of Winterthur, the National Gallery of Arts Circle of Friends, and the collection of American antiques in the diplomatic reception rooms at the State Department. He became an expert in the field of Chinese export porcelain and assembled one of America's finest collections of Imari. Other interests were gardening, golf, and trout fishing during summers in Wisconsin, where he helped in the preservation of the Brule River. A member of Pine Valley Golf Club, he wrote that he enjoyed golfing in local tournaments with classmate Ed Clark. He belonged to the Metropolitan Club and the Chevy Chase Club.

Surviving are Nancy, his wife of 61 years, daughters Susan and Penelope, and four grandchildren, one of whom is Jamie Sullivan '00.

The Class of 1939