Birdsey, William Sr.

William C Birdsey, Sr Sept 26, 1911- Aug 21 2009 Bill passed 
away peacefully at his home on August 21, 2009. He was born 
September 26, 1911 in Chicago, Illinois. The family moved to 
California and settled in Pasadena when Bill was a boy. He 
attended CalTech and received his degree in Mechanical 
Engineering which he applied during his career. Bill retired from 
Fiberboard Corporation as Vice President of Operations for 
California. After he retired he served on the Board of Directors 
of the Flintkote Corporation. Bill was married twice and was a 
devoted and loving husband. He married his first wife Betty 
Creswell upon graduation and they spent 23 years together. 
They had 2 children Betsey and Bill. After Betty's untimely death 
from cancer, Bill moved the family to San Francisco. There he 
met and married Jean Andre. They were married for 46 
wonderful and loving years. Bill loved sailing. It was his passion 
in life whether it be racing or cruising he was truly at home on 
the water. He imparted this passion with family and friends thru 
out his life. In his youth he built his first sailboat and plied the 
waters of Lake Michigan. After the family moved to California he 
built a Star. With Betty and the family in tow he cruised the 
Southern Cal waters. He frequently sailed to the Channel Islands, 
first on a 28ft sloop and then a 44ft schooner. It was on the San 
Francisco Bay that Bill started racing. He became a member of 
the San Francisco and Saint Francis Yacht Clubs. He acquired a 
Cal 40 "Seabird III" which he raced in the San Francisco Bay, the 
Trans Pac to Hawaii and up and down the California coast. If a 
race was scheduled Bill, "Seabird III" and crew were most likely 
there. In 1977 Jean and William embarked on a six-year sailing 
adventure. They purchased a Whitby 42 "SEABIRD V" and sailed 
all of the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and from Maine 
to Florida. They then brought the boat to British Columbia to 
complete their journey. In 1983 the St Francis yacht Club 
awarded the Harter-Jacks Perpetual Cruising Trophy to Bill. Bill is 
survived by his sister Ruth Burr, children Betsy Fraser-Smith, Bill 
Birdsey II, Noble A. "Rocky" Birdsey, 4 grandchildren and 8 
great-grandchildren. A celebration of Bill's life will be held at 
noon on Sunday, September 26 at the San Francisco Yacht Club 
in Tiburon. For more information call 415-225-6146. In lieu of 
flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in memory of 
William C Birdsey to the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors, 
Pier 40. The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA, 94107. The family 
will match donations made in Bills memory. To inquire about 
matching donations please call 415-225-6146. 

Published in San Francisco Chronicle from September 12 to 
September 19, 2010