William W. London ’71

Bill died Oct. 22, 2023, in Boulder, Colo., after years of living with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.

Bill came to Princeton from Casady School in Oklahoma City, where he lived almost his entire life. He played freshman soccer and lightweight football, roomed with Yeary, Winant, Chamberlain, Baine, Loughlin, and Metzger, and belonged to Quad. Roommates valued his insight, integrity, intellect, quiet humor, constant smile, unfailing kindness, and calm, thoughtful demeanor. He tolerated good-natured teasing about the rigor of majoring in geology, graduated with honors, earned a master’s in petroleum engineering at the University of Oklahoma, and became an independent oil and gas producer.

As a wildcatter, Bill successfully developed oil fields in Texas and Oklahoma. He married his Casady classmate Coe in 1974 and raised three children. Bill enthusiastically took up distance running as a competitor in 38 marathons (including eight Boston and nine New York City); as a coach for his children and their peers; and as a founder and director of a long-standing community running event. He was a master storyteller, rode horses competitively, gardened, read history voraciously, and supported Coe’s and their children’s activities.

To Coe, his children Lauren, Lucy, and Aidan, his grandchildren, other family, and many friends, the class extends its deepest sympathies.