William S. Delafield ’37

Bill Delafield died Nov. 20, 2010.  

He was born in Westhampton Beach, N.Y. He prepared for Princeton at Lawrenceville, where he was a scholarship winner. At Princeton he was on the wrestling team and a member of the crew. He also belonged to Colonial Club. Bill had six relatives who attended Princeton.

After graduating, Bill worked at the Alex Smith Carpet Co. in Yonkers, N.Y., and later with the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. He entered the Army as a second lieutenant in 1942, took part in the D-Day landing, and won a Bronze Star. He was discharged as a captain.

Bill became foreign director of Mobil Oil and then president of Delafield Oil Co. in Brewster, N.Y., where he was living at the time of his death. He also had served as New York state energy-resource agent. His hobbies were sailing, sculling, and scuba diving.

In 1934 he married Helen Dean and they became parents of three sons and three daughters. The family eventually grew to include 10 grandsons and 12 granddaughters as well as two great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

To Bill’s family and friends, we extend our sincere sympathy with fond remembrances from the Class of 1937.