William A. Tryon II ’53

Bill died March 12, 2016, in Elmira, N.Y., where he was born and raised.

At Princeton, Bill played baseball and football all four years and was a member and president of Tiger Inn. Having participated in the ROTC program in college, Bill went on to serve as an officer in the Marine Corps before returning to Elmira. He wrote his thesis on “The Geology of the Elmira, New York, Quadrangle,” and committed himself to building a life on a foundation he thoroughly understood.

His day job for more than 60 years was selling life insurance, but he was always deeply involved in community activities including the Rotary Club, Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital, and the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes. He volunteered as a coach of Small-Fry basketball and high school golf. Bill was an avid golfer who won the New York State Golf Association Men’s State Amateur Championship three times and was inducted as an inaugural member of the New York State Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2013.

After graduation, Bill married Mary Lou Hamm, and she predeceased him by eight days. They are survived by three children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.