3
trees
planted in memory of William C. Stockdale
Obituary for William C. Stockdale
Rochester, NY: Passed away during the early hours of Wednesday, January 17, 2024. He was the beloved husband of 68 years of Marta A. Stockdale; father of Gwen A. Fellows (Gary), Greg W. Stockdale (Theresa), Alan Stockdale (Linda), and Renee Stockdale-Homick (Michael); son of William and Irene Stockdale; brother of Pat Easterbrook; grandfather to Galen and Briana Fellows, Noah and Hannah Homick, Laura, Brendan, and Sarah Stockdale, and Evan and Jenna Sicuranza; great grandfather to Molly, Graham, and Edison. He was predeceased by his loving parents, William and Irene Stockdale.
William was born in Pittsburgh, PA, on December 3, 1933. He had an active childhood and often played baseball in the alley behind his house with neighborhood friends. They often had to chase the ball down a big hill to keep it from rolling out into traffic. His love of golf began in his early teens when he caddied at local courses and was able to learn and play the game as a result. In high school, he played golf and basketball and even ran cross country for a year. After graduating from Brentwood High School, he attended college at the University of Pittsburgh. At Pitt, he studied psychology, was an ace golfer on the varsity golf team, and was enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 1955 and went on to serve in the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant.
William met the love of his life, Marta, while he was in college. They married on August 20, 1955. They spent their early years in Texas, where Bill did his tour of duty in the Air Force. After spending time in Texas and Virginia, Bill and Marta settled in the Rochester, NY, area and made their permanent home there. The couple built a beautiful life together, raising their family initially in the town of Irondequoit, but ultimately locating to Pittsford where they lived for many years. Bill pursued his career in advertising, initially forming a partnership in a firm, and then striking out on his own to form his own company, Stockdale Communications. Outside of his work, Bill was an avid sportsman, taking pleasure not only in playing golf but also tennis, paddle tennis, and racquetball. Golf was his true love, though, and he excelled at it to the extent that he was a scratch golfer and member at Oak Hill Country Club, where he and Marta were members for 65 years. His golf capstone was when he qualified for and played as an amateur in the 1984 U.S. Senior Open. Later, he blended his love of golf and literature by producing a play based on the golf stories of PG Wodehouse at the Downstairs Cabaret in December 1999.
Bill was also a beloved father to his four children, supporting them in their various endeavors including arts and crafts, sports, and music. He played golf and tennis with them and never let them off easy. In his 50s, he even played racquetball with college students at St. John Fisher. All of this energy he also used with his grandchildren, taking them swimming, playing tennis, and other activities.
A true maestro in every facet of life, he was not only an incredible father and husband but also a successful entrepreneur with an unmatched wit, infectious laugh, and the creativity of a brilliant writer. His golf swing mirrored his humor - impeccable. Acing both golf and family life, he leaves behind a legacy woven with threads of love, laughter, and the captivating stories he penned on both paper and stage.
A remembrance service will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024, 10:00am, at White Haven Memorial Park's Creation Chapel, 210 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY, where a gathering will follow at 12:00pm at Oak Hill Country Club, 145 Kilbourn Drive in Pittsford. Family and friends are welcome to join us at one or both events. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Open Door Mission (opendoormission.org).
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