William Witman Obituary

William "Bill" P. Witman

AGE: 92 • Middletown

William P. Witman (Bill), of Middletown, NJ, 92, died peacefully on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. The son of chiropractor- artist William U. Witman and a women's suffragette activist M. Jeanetta Witman, he was born in 1921 and raised in South Orange, New Jersey. Growing up near the town library fostered his passion for reading and life-long learning. Bill attended Dartmouth College where he played trumpet in the marching band, and developed interests in law and history. At the outbreak of WWII he entered the Navy shortly after graduating from Dartmouth in 1942. After field training on PT rescue boats, he served as a Lieutenant on the destroyer escort USS Rall on convoys to Ulithi Atoll in the Pacific. Bill received his JD degree at Columbia Law School after the war. He began his career as a lawyer working for the government in Washington, DC. Bill was employed by NY Bell Telephone Company as a labor relations lawyer where he arbitrated many cases between the Union and Bell Telephone and became head of the department. He argued one case at the United States Supreme Court. A strong advocate for education at all levels, he was elected to the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School Board of Education where he served for several years. After retiring from NY Bell Telephone he worked for NYNEX for an additional 2 years. Bill re-married in 1985 to his childhood friend Camilla McClave. They spent many happy years living along the Jersey shore playing tennis, taking adult education courses at Fordham University, going to the beach and hosting their families. Bill was proud to play trumpet in the Band of The Two Rivers. Bill will be remembered for his positive attitude, inquisitive, lively intellect, keen interest in politics and compassion for others as a gentleman.

He is survived by his loving wife, Camilla Adams McClave Witman; four children from his marriage to Anita; son Mark W. Witman, son Jon D. Witman, and daughters Ann J. Witman and Susan P. Witman and partner Robert; daughters in-law, Christine and Morgan; his grandchildren, Jessica and husband Michael, Lindsey and husband Jesse, Christopher, Elias and Haley; his great grandson, Tyler; and two nieces, Diana and Morgan.

Family and friends will gather for a celebration of Bill Witman's life at Salt Creek Grille, Rumson, N.J. on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 from 4-6 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or Clean Ocean Action (www.cleanoceanaction.gov). Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank was entrusted with his care.