William A. Stoops Jr. ’45

William A. Stoops Jr. ’45, of Falmouth, Me., formerly of Needham, Mass. and Freedom, N.H.; Apr. 1. After Brown and service in the U.S. Navy, where he attained the rank of lieutenant, he attended Harvard Business School. He worked at Sylvania Electric for many years. In 1982, he and his family moved to homes in Maine and New Hampshire and he continued his career in the defense business as a manager at Bath Iron Works. In retirement, finally able to pursue his sailing passion full-time, he and his son purchased a 36-foot Swan sloop and cruised the coastal waters. He participated in several Marion-Bermuda races and stood behind the helm well into his 90s, including a sail from South Bristol, Me., to Falmouth at the age of 95. Equally remarkable was his piloting a Cessna 172 Skyhawk at the age of 97. He served as treasurer of the Freedom local library before moving to Falmouth in 2018. He is survived by his wife, Sally; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons, including William III ’78; two daughters-in-law; three grandchildren; a great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews.