Obituary for William "Bill" Brewster
WILLIAM BREWSTER
Duxbury, Massachusetts
William “Bill” Brewster passed away on February 21, 2022, age 96, following a brief illness. He was born in Casper, Wyoming, on January 29, 1926, to the late Oswald Cammann Brewster and Elizabeth Ramsay (Booraem) Brewster. His early childhood was in Wyoming and Missouri and he had an adventure with his family on a houseboat exploring Midwest rivers, but he considered himself from Litchfield, CT. After graduating from Litchfield High School in 1943 he was a part of the V-12 Navy College Program and served as an ensign on the Joseph P. Kennedy till the end of the war. After his Navy service, he graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949.
Bill spent over 30 years working for General Electric/Lockheed Martin as an engineer and chief engineer on classified projects. Although he told his family that he played bridge at work, he did more than that, but was unable to say much about all he did. He received the CIA Agency Seal Medallion and other recognitions for his work. He remained cognitively sharp throughout life, enjoying sudokus and New York Times crosswords.
Sports were always a large part of Bill’s life. He played multiple sports in high school, was on the Cornell soccer team, played semi-pro baseball, had two holes-in-one in golf, gracefully skied for many years, and shared special memories canoeing with family. Late in life he came to the conclusion that his baseball and golf skills would have been even better had he been able to be a “lefty” rather than being forced to use his right hand. He enjoyed following various professional teams, including having season tickets to the Philadelphia Flyers for over 25 years, and sharing this passion for sports with his family.
In retirement, he became a prolific and skilled artist, painting until very recently. He was a woodworker by hobby, making beautiful fine furniture with attention to every detail, replicating many antiques, rarely using power tools, and turning beautiful vases and bowls. One of his last works was, aptly, a beautiful grandfather’s clock.
Bill married his childhood best friend’s sister, Rosalind “Roz” Deacon, in 1949 and together they lived in Coatesville, PA, Schenectady, NY, Valley Forge, PA, and, finally, Glenmoore, PA. They shared many fond memories during their 62 beautiful years of marriage until Roz’s death. Following Roz’s death, Bill reconnected with Nancy Gordon (Atwood), whose parents had been close friends of Bill’s parents in Litchfield. Together they built a sweet, close, supportive relationship with Nancy becoming a “Brewster” in a religious ceremony in 2021.
Most significantly, Bill will be fondly remembered by his family for being a kind, loving, supportive, and generous father and “G-Dad”. Bill’s memory and legacy will live on through his two children: Robert D. Brewster (Debra) and Jean B. Caldwell (Stephen); four grandchildren: Josh (Amy), Leila, Navid (Chanel), and Noah Brewster; great-granddaughters Bentley and Marley; and many nieces and nephews. Nancy and the Gordon family generously included Bill in their family for a decade; they, too, will warmly remember the times they shared together. In addition to Roz, he was predeceased by his granddaughter Allison E. Caldwell and his two brothers James H. Brewster and Robert B. Brewster.
A celebration of Bill’s life was held on July 22, 2022 at the East Cemetery in Litchfield.. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of William Brewster and his granddaughter Allison Caldwell to: Dr. Peter Rowe’s Research Fund, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Attn: Alicia Cleaver, Office of Development, 750 East Pratt Street - Suite 1700, Baltimore MD 21202
Duxbury, Massachusetts
William “Bill” Brewster passed away on February 21, 2022, age 96, following a brief illness. He was born in Casper, Wyoming, on January 29, 1926, to the late Oswald Cammann Brewster and Elizabeth Ramsay (Booraem) Brewster. His early childhood was in Wyoming and Missouri and he had an adventure with his family on a houseboat exploring Midwest rivers, but he considered himself from Litchfield, CT. After graduating from Litchfield High School in 1943 he was a part of the V-12 Navy College Program and served as an ensign on the Joseph P. Kennedy till the end of the war. After his Navy service, he graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1949.
Bill spent over 30 years working for General Electric/Lockheed Martin as an engineer and chief engineer on classified projects. Although he told his family that he played bridge at work, he did more than that, but was unable to say much about all he did. He received the CIA Agency Seal Medallion and other recognitions for his work. He remained cognitively sharp throughout life, enjoying sudokus and New York Times crosswords.
Sports were always a large part of Bill’s life. He played multiple sports in high school, was on the Cornell soccer team, played semi-pro baseball, had two holes-in-one in golf, gracefully skied for many years, and shared special memories canoeing with family. Late in life he came to the conclusion that his baseball and golf skills would have been even better had he been able to be a “lefty” rather than being forced to use his right hand. He enjoyed following various professional teams, including having season tickets to the Philadelphia Flyers for over 25 years, and sharing this passion for sports with his family.
In retirement, he became a prolific and skilled artist, painting until very recently. He was a woodworker by hobby, making beautiful fine furniture with attention to every detail, replicating many antiques, rarely using power tools, and turning beautiful vases and bowls. One of his last works was, aptly, a beautiful grandfather’s clock.
Bill married his childhood best friend’s sister, Rosalind “Roz” Deacon, in 1949 and together they lived in Coatesville, PA, Schenectady, NY, Valley Forge, PA, and, finally, Glenmoore, PA. They shared many fond memories during their 62 beautiful years of marriage until Roz’s death. Following Roz’s death, Bill reconnected with Nancy Gordon (Atwood), whose parents had been close friends of Bill’s parents in Litchfield. Together they built a sweet, close, supportive relationship with Nancy becoming a “Brewster” in a religious ceremony in 2021.
Most significantly, Bill will be fondly remembered by his family for being a kind, loving, supportive, and generous father and “G-Dad”. Bill’s memory and legacy will live on through his two children: Robert D. Brewster (Debra) and Jean B. Caldwell (Stephen); four grandchildren: Josh (Amy), Leila, Navid (Chanel), and Noah Brewster; great-granddaughters Bentley and Marley; and many nieces and nephews. Nancy and the Gordon family generously included Bill in their family for a decade; they, too, will warmly remember the times they shared together. In addition to Roz, he was predeceased by his granddaughter Allison E. Caldwell and his two brothers James H. Brewster and Robert B. Brewster.
A celebration of Bill’s life was held on July 22, 2022 at the East Cemetery in Litchfield.. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of William Brewster and his granddaughter Allison Caldwell to: Dr. Peter Rowe’s Research Fund, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Attn: Alicia Cleaver, Office of Development, 750 East Pratt Street - Suite 1700, Baltimore MD 21202