Stockwell, William J., Brig Gen

Brigadier General William J. Stockwell, United States Air Force Reserve (Ret) - 71 - passed away on June 16, 2011.

Born July 18, 1939 in Hartford, CT, he is predeceased by his parents David and Leota (Simmons) Stockwell and his beloved niece Jennifer Joyce. BG Stockwell is survived by his loving children Laura (Stockwell) Norwood of Canton, MA, David R. Stockwell of San Francisco, CA, their mother Karen (Ten Eyck) Stockwell of Bloomfield, CT, two grandchildren Jack Liam Norwood and Katherine Ten Eyck Norwood, his two sisters, Patricia Kallio of Norfolk, MA and Barbara Stockwell of Valrico, FL, as well as 10 nieces and nephews.

Bill graduated from William H. Hall High School in West Hartford, CT in 1957. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut in 1961 and a Master's degree in finance from the University of Hartford in 1976. In high school and college, Bill excelled as a member of the football team and chorale. During his senior year of high school, he performed the lead in West Hartford's production of "Carousel," which instilled in him his lifelong love of singing and music.

His military education includes Air Command Staff College (1978) and the National Security Management Course (1983). Bill began his military career in 1961 when he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was commissioned a second lieutenant following graduation from the Platoon Leaders Course at Quantico, VA in 1962. He was assigned to the Naval Flight School at Pensacola, FL, and received his naval pilot wings following advanced jet training at Beeville, TX in 1963. From January 1964 through February 1965, he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing at the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), El Toro, CA, where he flew F8U Crusaders and F4B Phantom jets. Bill was assigned to Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, as part of the 1st Marine Air Wing in 1965, and flew 110 combat missions in the F4B with All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadrons. He joined the 2nd Marine Wing at the MCAS, Beaufort, SC, as operations officer and flight instructor in 1966, where he also participated in the conversion of a jet fighter attack group from the F8U to the F4B aircraft. He joined the 104th Tactical Fighter Group (TFG), Massachusetts Air National Guard in 1970 and flew T-33 and F-100/F aircraft. In 1972, he transferred to the 103rd TFG, Connecticut Air National Guard and was appointed Chief of Staff in 1987. The General was a command pilot with over 3,500 jet fighter hours in the F8U, F4B and A-10. Bill's military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Navy Commendation Medal with V for valor, Air Force Outstanding Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, Combat Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Longevity with one device, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Navy Unit Citation.

In addition to his military career Bill was a successful businessman working in the financial services industry, retiring as a senior vice president from Society for Savings. His civic affiliations included the Governor's Military Staff; Leadership of Greater Hartford, an association for leading businessmen in the greater Hartford area; the Hartford Housing Task Force; and the Hartford Philharmonic Society. He was affiliated with the West Hartford Rotary Club and the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce where he served as treasurer during his tenure.

Bill was a life-long resident of Connecticut residing in West Hartford and Old Lyme. He enjoyed spending time with his children, taking part in a variety of activities including camping, hiking, hunting, snow and water skiing, fishing, and traveling. He particularly enjoyed his time in Old Lyme with his grandchildren making sandcastles, playing guitar, crabbing and eating ice cream. Bill was an avid reader and singer. As a member of the Hartford Symphony Chorale and Cappella Cantorum, Bill spent many winters performing in concerts around the region. In particular, much time and love was spent performing Mozart's Requiem. As a baritone for these groups, Bill sang at Carnegie Hall, a notable accomplishment he rarely mentioned. Bill loved the outdoors, and spent many weeks over numerous summers at Great Gull Island, recording the nesting and hatching habits of the sea birds that migrate there. He enjoyed gardening and planting, painting and walking around the shoreline area.

A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, CT on Friday, June 24th. Family and friends are invited to join the family at their home in Old Lyme at 19 White Sand Beach Road immediately following the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that we remember Bill in a special way by donating in his name to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, Attn: Gift Processing (memorial donations can also be made on-line at www.dav.org) or the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th floor, New York, NY 10001.