He prepared for Princeton at the Choate School and Wellington College in the United Kingdom. At Princeton, he participated in the Special Program in the Humanities and wrote his senior thesis, “Christian Pacifism in an Age of Total War,” in the history department. He was co-chairman of the University Religious Conference, a Chapel deacon, a member of Quadrangle Club, and a pianist for the Triangle Club.

Following service in the Army, Bill undertook graduate studies in history and Slavic languages in Germany and worked for the State Department in various “quiet activities on behalf of the U.S. government.” This included tours to Holland and Vienna, Austria. From 1972 to 1975 Bill worked in the White House as assistant director of the Council on International Economic Policy.

Bill retired from government work in 1975. He worked in international government relations for Citigroup until fully retiring in 1998 to pursue his hobbies as a freelance pianist and photographer. He organized literature-related activities at Washington’s Cosmos Club, and was president of the Hawley Society.

Bill was a voracious reader — from math to medicine and history to horror novels — and also enjoyed good movies, passions he could indulge in until the end.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Valeska; their four children; and nine grandchildren.