William Ririe

William Gordon Ririe, 86, a longtime Chicagoan, who lived in Bermuda Run, NC, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2018 after a 36-year battle with various types of cancer. “Bill” was born in Chicago, Illinois, October 15, 1931. His wife, Emily (Boo) Ririe passed away a year ago. He was the loving father of Cheryl Ririe-Kurz and Dr. Douglas Gordon Ririe (wife, Kirsten Lefler) and the beloved grandfather of Mimi, Douglas, Morgan, Katherine, Caroline, and Charlotte.

Bill spent the majority of his career in the property/casualty and high risk insurance business and financial services practice, skippered many Chicago Mackinac sailboat races, served as President and long-time member of the Beverly Hills Tennis Club in Chicago, and actively volunteered and participated with a Chicago-area group of Us Too prostate cancer survivors called the Mavericks. A history major, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in 1953. Prior to college he attended and graduated from St. John’s Military Academy and served in the U.S. Army Tenth Mountain Division.

Known for his love of knowledge, particularly history and religion, he amassed a personal library of more than 15,000 books, and enjoyed deep intellectual discussions on these and many other topics with family, friends, and clients. Bill grew and ran his businesses by “building relationships” based on “handshakes”. In addition to his love for the water of Lake Michigan (sailing, kayaking, wind surfing) and playing tennis and squash, he was an avid athlete who loved nature, the mountains, and skiing, and who played golf until he was 85. Bill was fun-loving with a quick sense of humor, yet he was also admired for his tenacity, his sense of justice, courage, and compassion, often helping others informally when he recognized a need. People who knew him considered him a “true Renaissance man”.

A life celebration service will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 3pm at Frank Vogler and Sons, Clemmons NC.

Donations to be made to Emily's Kids Foundation