This world bid a loving farewell to a courageous, adventuresome and exemplary gentleman as William (Bill) H. Morton, Jr. transitioned from this world to the next on January 23, 2023.  Bill passed away peacefully in his sleep at home in Vero Beach, FL surrounded by family and an immensity of love.

Bill Morton was born in New York, NY on June 9, 1945, to William H Morton, Sr. and Margaret Dobbin becoming one of the first surviving RH Negative babies. Related complications left Bill with life-long hearing loss which taught him “the importance of perseverance by never accepting ‘you cannot’ or ‘should not’ pursue something you are determined to achieve”, as Bill was fond of sharing.  A lack of hearing never stood in Bill’s way of fulfilling his dreams.

By thirteen, Bill was restoring and selling antique cars to pursue flying lessons and ultimately acquiring his pilot’s license by the age of seventeen. By eighteen, Bill had begun his quest for ocean racing which included countless long distance blue water regattas. Among his most cherished was a transatlantic race from Newport, RI to Copenhagen, Denmark at age twenty-one.  He craved the challenges and excitement as an avid sailor, racing in offshore events as “gopher”, foredeck, watch captain, or navigator. Sailing and aviation always remained a centerpiece for Bill in his quest to “conquer” land, air and sea.

Bill graduated from Middlebury College in 1969 and during his college years he married the love of his life, Dawn Ketcham McClure. Soon after they finished at Middlebury and his heeding the responsibility as a husband, Bill joined Deck House, Inc., in Acton, MA. While with Deck House, Inc., Bill became a co-owner and with the acquisition of Acorn Structures they specialized in providing turn-key projects in both light commercial and high-end custom residential construction developments. Seeking additional financial experience, Bill simultaneously joined the First National Bank of Boston and later Lazard Freres NYC.

After selling Deck House Inc. and Acorn Structures, Bill became a partner in Coastal Aviation and later the COO of Memry Corporation. While Bill never truly retired, he spent many of his last professional years as a Managing Director of iQ Venture Partners, a private merchant bank originating and nurturing promising companies in partnership with entrepreneurs and management teams. He also had the pleasure of serving as a trustee of the Holderness School in Plymouth, NH for 18 years.

Bill exemplified how to be a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and a true gentleman of the highest integrity.

Bill enjoyed being an active member of The Cruising Club of America; The Moorings Yacht & Country Club, Vero Beach, FL; Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, MD; American Yacht Club, Rye, NY; and Wings Club, New York, NY.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Dawn McClure Morton; Children; William H. Morton, III.; Heidi Hanson Sherrill; Scott Ketcham Morton; Melinda Elizabeth Koermer: In-Laws; Fred Jernigan Sherrill; Shannon Leary Morton; Alan Emanuel Koermer: Grandchildren; Hunter Morton; Dobbin McKinnon Sherrill; Walker Ketcham Sherrill; Brooks Brockman Sherrill; Skyler Elizabeth Morton; Cooper Jack Morton; Jackson Alan Koermer; Kenzie Dobbin Koermer.

In true Bill fashion, he wanted to be “abundantly clear” that nothing in life would have been possible without the incredible support and blessings from his amazing life-long friends and family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Rye Presbyterian Church located at 882 Boston Post Road, Rye, New York on February 25, 2023, at 11:00am with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in the memory of William H. Morton, Jr. to VNA & Hospice Foundation located at 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or https://vnatc.org/waystogive/.