Read the remembrances from the Form of 1961 on page 60, in Form Notes.
July 27, 1942 – February 14, 2017 President, Groton School Board of Trustees, 1989–96, trustee 1979–96
in memoriam
William A. Oates Jr. ’61
P
by William M. Polk, Former Headmaster
B
ILLY OATES JR. died on February 14, 2017,
after a long and determined battle with multiple myeloma. His funeral was held at his home parish, St. Paul’s Church, in Dedham, Massachusetts, on Friday, February 24. The service, a celebration of a life lived to the fullest, was a family affair, with his brothers, Tom ’67 and Jim, and his daughters, Lilly ’89, Kate ’93, and Emily ’97, the leading participants. The church was overflowing with people from the world of William Armstrong Oates Jr. Groton was well represented by Temba Maqubela, Hugh and Eleanor Sackett, Lyn Carroll, Fred and Cindy Beams, Señor John Conner, and me—as well as many of Billy’s formmates, his daughters’ formmates, and other generations of graduates. Arriving at Groton as a First Former in 1955, Billy displayed those qualities that became the hallmark of his life: perpetual motion; a tenacious determination; a strong sense of order and a love of ritual; a rich curiosity about people, places, and how things work; an unfailing loyalty to family, friends, and institutions; and a lively sense of humor. Billy would set his sights on a goal and rarely let up, whether at a Glee Club dance or on the ice. Having grown up as a fac brat at St. Paul’s School, where he skated on the ponds at an early age, Billy had developed a prowess on the ice that had us all in awe. Billy also loved ritual, some of them outlined by formmate David Auchincloss: “Chapel (though he couldn’t carry a tune), rallies, feeds, ceremonies of any
sort, cheering for others on their special occasions.” In her remembrance, daughter Kate picked up on this theme: “My dad loved being the center of attention. He dressed like a peacock, carried himself like he was six-foot-five with a thick head of hair; but he loved making you the center of attention, too. He thrived on shock value—short shorts on the golf course, bright pink glasses, lavender sport coats, and pastel ski jackets.” One of Billy’s favorite quotes was, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Beyond his passionate curiosity, Billy had many special talents that allowed him to be a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather, enjoy lifelong friendships, build a successful business, and become a superb gardener and a discriminating collector of western art. His service to Groton School, Roxbury Latin, and, most recently, Colby College had a significant impact far beyond the considerable money he raised for those institutions. He served as a trustee of Colby College, his alma mater, from 2005–13 and again from 2014 until his death. Roxbury Latin, where he served as trustee and treasurer, granted him an honorary degree for his service in 1985. Billy’s extensive service to Groton, for which I am grateful, is highlighted in “A Groton Legacy” on page 54. I enjoyed fundraising trips with Billy. His curiosity about people served him and the school well. His daughter Lilly noted that he loved to meet strangers. “He could meet someone and, within minutes, that person would be talking to him about her or his deepest thoughts,
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