William (Bill) Allison of Naples FL and Boothbay Harbor ME, passed away peacefully in Naples on May 20, 2025. He was 96 years old, and lived a wonderful and full life. He was a generous man with an infectious laugh, a quick wit and a deep love for family and friends.
Bill was born in Bryn Mawr PA, and raised in the Boston area. Bill graduated from the College of William and Mary, where he ran track and was President of his fraternity. His college tenure was interrupted by serving in the military for three years during the Korean conflict.
Upon returning to college, Bill renewed a friendship with Barbara Bowman, a former classmate who was working in Williamsburg. Bill and Barbara married in May 1956 and raised a family in Wellesley, MA. They had fifty-six wonderful years together, until Barbara’s passing in 2012.
Bill’s entire professional career was spent with Aubrey G. Lanston and Co., a firm specializing in U.S. government securities. He retired in 1990 as Senior Vice-President in charge of the Boston office.
Bill was active with numerous professional and community organizations. He was past President of the William and Mary Boston alumni chapter, and served on the College’s endowment board for six years. Bill was past President of the Wellesley Country Club, the Bond Club of Boston and the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. He was instrumental in the U.S. Postal Service issuing a Ouiment commemorative postage stamp.
Bill particularly loved boating and spending time at his summer home in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Bill first traveled to the Maine coast in 1934, and he spent time there every year since. He served on the Board of Overseers of the Bayville Village Corporation in his beloved summer community. He enjoyed many years of cruising along the Maine Coast, and was a member of the Down East and Boothbay Harbor Yacht Clubs. Through the years he either sailed or motored by boat to locations ranging from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Havana, Cuba.
Bill and Barbara bought their first residence in Naples in 1984, and Bill maintained a residence there ever since. He was a former member of the Wydemere and Royal Poinciana Golf Clubs.
In Naples Bill met Cec Borgeson, who has been his cherished partner since 2013. They enjoyed many years together in Naples and on numerous trips, including to Maine and Michigan.
Bill is preceded by his wife and a son (Bo). He is survived by four children (Jeff, Laura, Will (Jillian) and Karen (Padraic) and five grandsons (Aidan, William, Liam, Brian and JJ) who will miss him dearly and are thankful for the fun times they shared together. We imagine him sipping his martini and delivering one-liners with family and friends who passed before.
We would like to thank the staff at the Cove and the Marbella, and other caregivers who brought Bill tremendous friendship and comfort. In accordance with Bill’s wishes there will not be a memorial service, but there will be a celebration of his life in Maine this summer.
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