William M. Iler ’51

Bill was born Nov. 13, 1926, in New York City to Alexander and Gladys Borden Iler.

He attended St. Paul’s School. At Princeton he was an economics major, belonged to Cottage Club, rowed, and was in ROTC. He roomed with Charlie Beattie, Peter Fleming, and Roby Harrington.

He served in the Army in the Korean War. After three years of military service, he followed his maternal forebears, the Bordens of Fall River Iron Works, and worked in the textile industry in New York and then in Boston until his death. Bill married Edith “Deedie” Devens, daughter of Charlie Devens, a one-time pitcher for the New York Yankees in the Babe Ruth era and later president of Putnam Investors Fund.

He was a member of the Union Boat Club of Boston, where he served for many years on the executive committee and participated in the 1959 crew that raced at Henley.

Bill died peacefully Aug. 23, 2015, in Beverly, Mass., and is survived by Deedie, children Edith Wiedemann, Matthew, Samuel, and Alexander, their families; and his brother Alexander.

Services were held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms, Mass. Donations to Princeton in his memory would be most appreciated.