William Agnew Catterson

Bill was the youngest of four siblings and spent his youth playing stickball in the streets of Brooklyn where his lifelong love of baseball was born. As a boy, he operated an elevator at Neiman Marcus, delivered groceries, and even had the opportunity to share the field (albeit briefly) with baseball legend Jackie Robinson. He was later scouted by the Dodgers farm team, but instead opted to attend college.

After earning his degree from City College of New York, Bill joined the Army, which sent him to language school in Monterey, CA and later Japan. Through his work with the Department of State, Bill lived throughout the world as Head of Security for various United States embassies, including the Philippines, Germany, Romania, and Russia.

Bill was an avid reader and had an encyclopedic knowledge of world history, current events, geography, politics, and major conflicts. He loved crossword puzzles and did the New York Times puzzle daily “to test his mental acuity.” He was a private man who valued stimulating conversation and a quiet life. He often wrote long, thoughtful, and descriptive letters to family and friends. He lived simply and kept only things that were useful and a few treasures from his world travels that conjured fond memories.

He was a devoted husband who cared for his wife through her 10 years of cancer. To his family he was a stable and dependable source of strength and support. He offered help before it was asked of him and then acted as though it was an honor to assist. He had the reputation of showing up in times of need and quietly doing what needed to be done. He was generous and thoughtful to the needs of his family until the end and will be remembered as a brave man.

He was preceded in death by his wife Susan Wolf Catterson in 1994 and brothers Frank and Jim Catterson. Bill is survived by his son Chris Catterson (his wife, Vanna); son Will Catterson (his wife, Ragen); three grandchildren (Addilee, Grace, Cameron); and sister Jessica Girgenti of Franklin Square, NY.