William W. "Bill" Watson passed away peacefully at his home in
Fayston on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. He was born in Short Hills, NJ,
January 29, 1947, the son of the late Amy S. and Gavin H. Watson.
He graduated from Tabor Academy in 1965 where he was a member of the wrestling team and executive officer of the Tabor Boy, a 92-foot gaff-rigged schooner. He graduated from UVM in 1969 where his major was English.
Following graduation he toured Europe before starting work for
publishers of Value Line Investment Survey in New York City. He lasted
three years before heading to the mountains of Vermont.
Skiing in the mid 1960s with his family in Stowe and later skiing here
with friends from UVM, he landed in the Mad River Valley. He joined the
ranks of ski bums, working for ST Paving and then in the hospitality
businesses bartending, cooking and managing The Ark and Snuggery.
In recent years, Bill divided his time between his house in Wilmington,
Delaware, and his Fayston home, boating and traveling to visit friends
and family.
He was predeceased by his sister Amy H. Day and is survived by his
brother Gavin H. Watson Jr.; two nephews, Fairfield P. Day III and
Gavin H. Watson III; two nieces, Amy H. Day and Whitney Watson
Anderson; and seven grand nephews and nieces.
A Viking funeral celebration will be held by his family for friends at Bill's Fayston home next June.
Condolences may be sent to the family email at
Bill loved sailing, skiing, puttzing around his houses, people and his
dog "Sleezy." His was an inventive and creative spirit. In the end his
big heart let go. We will miss his laugh.
