William “Bill” Stanton died peacefully at home on September 22, 2026. Or, as he would have said, he took control and guided his plane to a soft landing.

Bill was born and raised in New Jersey, at least for the most part. His childhood took him and his sister, Sarah Witter, around the world: he spent kindergarten in Holland, first grade near London, second grade in Tokyo, eighth grade in Rome, and tenth grade in Billings, Montana, which seemed like a foreign country to a New Jersey boy. For a gregarious child, this was an extraordinary opportunity to learn how to make friends with all kinds of people in all kinds of places, a skill he carried with him throughout his life.

Bill eventually landed in Boston for law school, where he met Lisa. When they married, Lisa was a divorce lawyer, and her boss gave them “one free divorce” as a wedding gift. Over forty-five years of marriage, she never once considered redeeming that coupon.

As the father of their two marvelous children, Pat and Erin, Bill was an ever-present part of their lives. He coached their sports teams, attended countless horse shows, and made sure his children had the opportunity to see the country and the world, just as he had growing up. Whether traveling with the kids, taking solo trips with Lisa or vacationing with his in-laws, Bill ended every trip by telling Lisa, “We travel well together.”

Bill was also an adoring grandfather to Alice and Fiona. At the beginning of COVID, he and Lisa went to Maryland to help care for them while Pat and Caroline worked. What was supposed to be two weeks became five and a half months, but Bill treasured that time and formed a special bond with his granddaughters that continued throughout his life.

After an initial successful career as an attorney, Bill found his calling working with nonprofits whose missions aligned with his values, leading fundraising efforts and serving in executive leadership roles. He worked with organizations including the North and South River Watershed Association (NSRWA), Transition House, The Trustees of Reservations, and Boston Natural Areas Network. He formed lasting friendships and mentored many along the way.

Even after retirement, Bill continued to give his time and expertise pro bono to organizations he cared about, including NSRWA, Transition House, the Prison Book Program, and Alice’s House.

While Bill’s greatest love was his family, he also loved golf, tennis, and hiking. For more than forty years, Bill brought people together through these activities. What began as groups of Marshfield golfers and Mill Pond tennis players grew into lasting communities of friends. He later led a group of nine hikers along the 261-mile Bay Circuit Trail. His humor, warmth, and organizational skills made every outing special. As one hiker put it, “It wasn’t about the hiking; it was about spending the day with Bill.”

Bill also found a community with the Friends of Bill. He was open about his struggles with alcohol and the journey of sobriety that followed. He was grateful for the friends and fellow travelers who shared their stories, offered support, and became an important part of his life. He took responsibility for his setbacks and found comfort, especially in his final days, in the words of the Serenity Prayer.

During his final months, as he faced aggressive liver cancer, he met this challenge with his own resolve, the love of his entire family, the support of myriad friends, and the professional care of doctors, nurses, home health aides, and hospice workers, each of whom he found to be skilled, forthright, kind, and compassionate. He was grateful to them all, as they helped guide him through his final journey.

A celebration of life for Bill will be held on Sunday, October 25 at the Marshfield Country Club from 3:00-5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to the North and South River Watershed Association of Norwell, online at: https://www.nsrwa.org/ or Transition House in Cambridge, online at: https://www.transitionhouse.org/