This is late and I just learned about "Oldfield's" passing recently.  Bill hired me in 1988 (to 1992 or '93) for a job at IBM GPG++ I had never really done before - as a tester.  But we hit it off and he trusted me.  He was fun (he and other cronies built a broom closet for our 2nd-line manager for his birthday - the manager opened his door and there was a mop and a light and four small walls where the office "used" to be).  Bill had us popping popcorn for a popcorn fall that he rigged in a friend's office and he crawled through the ceiling into an open office to get out.  He kept us laughing and on our toes.  GPG became geoGPG and years later, I rediscovered it as the Asheville government is using GIS to keep track of all the house information in our county.  That will live on and I'll never forget who was a driving factor behind it.  

In Peace.  I am very sorry for your loss.
-- Paradiso

I just found out today that Bill passed away. I worked with him about 15 years ago in IBM here in RTP. He was my mentor for about a year and was one of the most thoughtful, intelligent, yet funny guys I ever met. He always took time to ask me how my family was doing and if there was ever anything he could do to help when we were experiencing medical issues. I remember that he used to look forward to Friday afternoon "dates" with one of his nieces and I am sure he passed on many pearls of wisdom when they went to get ice cream after he picked her up from school. He will be sorely missed by many and it is a shame he was taken from us at such a young age. God bless you Bill and God bless all you left behind. I am proud that you were a friend of mine.

Bill was a great mentor at IBM, and always fun to work with.  We miss him.

Bill was one of the most supportive and thoughtful gentlemen I've had the privilege of working with.  Before I left IBM, he gave me a leather-bound business card book, so that as I progressed through my new career in law, I would always remember the people and experiences along the way.  Then, he put his own business card in it, because he wanted to be the first in that book, that would be emblematic of my new professional life.  I keep that book in my desk at work, and I think of him every time I add a new client's card to it.  I will continue to remember Bill, and his graceful, earnest, kind spirit.  Thank you for a wonderful sendoff Bill, and for all the laughs over the years.  God bless you and your family.

Bill was a remarkable person.  He took an interest in my son and daughter in a way that always made them feel special.  He loved to show up with an unusual toy or pull out a peculiar but handy tool or gadget.  He was observant and so insightful; the type of person you could trust with an inner concern.  I know he is smiling down on us all.

Mr. Oldfield was a funny, interesting and very thoughtful guy.  He taught me quite a bit during our time working together on CRM Siebel and I still ran into him now and then.  He was a very genuine person and I'll miss his odd humor and quick wit.

AS I read the memory book, I think about what a great person he was.  Bill and his sister Mary Beth were part of a group of kids that were together through St. Mary's in Wappingers and OLL.  I remember back to those time with great fondness.  Bill was one of the good guys.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Beth and his entire family.  There are many people out there who care about you. Please do not hesitate to lean on them as you grieve this loss.  It will take time to heal.

Mary Beth, I'm saddened to hear of the loss of your dear brother. May you take some comfort in the love of family and friends. May you find peace and embrace loving remembrance in time.

Bill will be sorely missed by all; As a co-captain together with Bill on the 1972 Lourdes Cross Country team, he was our spark, being a leader and mentor toward the younger runners, with his easygoing friendly demeanor, and great sense of humor;

I first met Bill and Mary Beth at St. Mary's in Wappingers and later ran track and cross country with Bill at Our Lady of Lourdes.  My memories are of a tireless runner,  a person with genuine warmth, and someone with a wonderful sense of humor.  My condolences to Mary Beth and the entire Oldfield family.  Sincerely, John Latino.

I do not know Bill but I am a volunteer with his mother, Gert, at St. Michael in Cary, NC. Gery, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Nancy Romano

I met Bill as a freshman on the OLL track team.  We shared many good times over our 40 years of friendship.  I fondly remember our weekend trip to the 1982 World's Fair (from Poughkeepsie to Knoxville) in Bill's BMW.  Bill always loved spontaneous road trips.  I last spoke to Bill in Feb 2012 when the Giants won the Super Bowl.  He called at midnight knowing that there would be a big celebration in our house and later sent a 'Super Bowl' gift. There will never be anyone quite like Bill; we will certainly miss him.  Our deepest sympathy to the Oldfield family.

Wow, Bill was a good friend and made OLL bearable.  My thoughts are with him and his family.

Our time at St. Mary's in Wappingers will always be my fondest memories of Bill. 
He was a good person and friend to me always.
Rest in Peace.
Steve Kerins

Happy and pleasant memories fill our hearts as we remember Bill.  He was like a brother for over 30 years ... attending holiday celebrations off and on, as well as  those times that we gathered to honor our loved ones that passed on.  Bill's generosity and kindness were always at the forefront.  Yet he always seemed to be in the background looking for ways to b helpful without being in the spotlight.  Or looking to engage someone in conversation who seemed to be one of the quiet ones.  And even after being together in person, he would remember things that he had promised to follow-up on.  Bill leaves the world a better place and leaves us as better individuals.  He is an inspiration to us all and will live fondly in our hearts.  May the goodness that he lived and spread to those around him continue to be lived and passed on in all of our lives to others.  We thank God for his friendship and all the times we spent together.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all.  Ed & Emi (San Antonio, Texas)

I remember Bill and His sister Mary Beth from St. Mary's School ,Wappingers Falls;NY and OLL. Bill was a nice guy. Very smart ,loved the Scouts and was a good athlete. I was able to follow his Cross Country career at the University of Scranton. Bill contributed  to the University Athletic campaign. The Poughkeepsie Journal is running a tribute  about IBM  and time they spent in Kingston,NY. I know Bill worked there. My family looks back with happy memories of Bill and his family when they lived in Dutchess County. We pray for Bill and all the Oldfield family.

I am so sorry to hear about Bill. Our paths crossed may years ago and I always held a great level of respect for him. My thoughts and prayers are with Bill, Patricia and the family.

I had the privilege of working with "Mr. Oldfield" (since I was always Mr. Jenkins to him) two different times.  The first was on Orion when I was a relatively new development manager.  That is when I found out how valuable ex-IBM managers are to managers.  Oldfield supported the technical community and helped drive them to their best, while supporting and honoring management.  He helped me understand the roles that all of us must play for successful releases.  He taught me that it was ok to love my people.

The second time was with Siebel CRM.  Once again, Oldfield was the technical leader that ensured success of the releases.  He epitomized what a professional IBMer could be.  He blended great technical acumen with a sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye.  He would give you a look that would make you believe in Santa Claus and know that all would be ok. 

Oldfield, I know you are up in heaven.  Thank you for all the lessons you have taught me.  You will be missed.

So sorry to hear about Bill's passing. I met him at IBM Kingston, but I called him Colosis (not Oldfield like others did), which was his username in their network. Going out to lunch was an crazy experience while flying down Albany Ave in his BMW. He was the most sincere and thoughtful friend anyone could have. He will be greatly missed.

Among many memories of Bill Oldfield, two in particular dominate, those of his overwhelming kindness and his responsible foresight.

He gave me a Boy Scout good turn coin.  He told me that he put his in his left pocket every morning and quietly moved it to his right pocket when he'd done someone a good turn.  He didn't limit himself to one good turn per day, of course. Some of his good turns were simple, some took courage and determination.  Whether giving me the good turn coin caused him to move his own, I don't know.  But sharing the idea was definitely a kindness.

Then at work, he often thought ahead and did his best to prevent problems from ever arising. That way he didn't need to be the center of the stage pulling together the solution. When I'm thinking about the different ways that people contribute, he is my personal model of the unsung hero.

We have been given news that our dear friend William Thomas Oldfield passed away. He was kind and giving, thoughtful and caring, he was intelligent and funny and gave a friend as much of himself as he could. He let you know if you were a trusted friend as well as remind you when you were something other. He was patient at explaining himself and was a concerned listener.
He mentored our daughters on intellectual questions about worldly and out of this world questions. He was the one we bounced ideas and moral issues off of. He was the one that all his friends went to when we didn't want to "go look it up". Oldfield knew much about everything. He encouraged you out of your comfort zone because he believed in his friends capabilities and wanted you to be successful.
These things have been said in the past about many individuals. And perhaps their loved ones were only remembering the good times. But this man was ALL of these things ALL of the time. When you knew Oldfield, and were welcomed into his inner circle of friends....you knew and loved Oldfield. Whether you knew him or not, this world was a better place for having him in it. Indeed we have all lost a little with Bill gone. His memory is galvanized in our thoughts forever!

I am sorry to hear of Bill's passing;  Bill and I shared many running experiences on 1971,1972 Our Lady of Lourdes cross country teams

Gert and Bill, so sorry to hear of your loss. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

A lot of fond memories from the days at OLL. Obviously left his mark on all those he met. Those great memories always live on!!

       David DiMarco(and the entire DiMarco family)

We have lost a true friend and our hearts feel empty already by his passing.  We will always remember his wit, warmth, sarcasm, compassion, intelligence and mostly, how we always felt very at ease with Bill.  Time could pass between our conversations, but we always just picked up where we left off after 40+ years of friendship.  Our prayers go out to Pat and all of Bill's family.  We will truly cherish our last conversation with Bill in that he assured our daughter who was leaving for college and told her that he was always "just a phone call away" if she needed anything.  That was Bill!!! Thank you for sharing in our lives.

I was fortunate to meet Bill on several occasions. I recall his gentle kindness, sincerity, generosity, and sense of humor. To Rose and Mary Beth, your family, and the many people who love Bill, my heart goes out to you.  Thank you for sharing the wonderful photographs.

We are so sorry to learn of William's passing. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers and as always if we can be of any help, even in a small way, let us know. Love, your friends, Jack & Fran

I had the good fortune to work with Oldfield (yes, he will always be Oldfield) for a number of years at IBM, and I have never worked with anybody who was a better colleague, mentor or just plain human being. He led by example, but he also consistently took time to help and coach new/younger team members. He understood how to focus on the technically crucial pieces of any project, while also pulling people together as a team. He put his dry sense of humor to good use in the legendary stories about himself that kicked off many project meetings (the marbles in the central vacuum when he was a kid comes to mind).
Oldfield, you will be missed.

My heart goes out to my colleague Mary Beth and her family for their sad loss.

My sincerest thoughts for the Oldfield family and deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences.

Our love and sympathy to the family of Bill! Our prayers will be with your entire family at this sad time, especially Mary Beth, Randy, Sarah, Rose & Mercer.

Where to even begin... Bill has been such a great mentor and trusted friend for whom I have so much genuine respect and admiration. He is one of those folks that you can't help but smile when you hear his voice on the other end of the line or see an instant message pop up from him.  We worked together on Electronic Fix Delivery for 3 years and remained friends afterwards. I hope that the sadness and grief soon turn to many happy memories.

Mary Beth, Randy, Rose & Mercer and to the rest of the family. My heartfelt compassion towards you all in the sudden death of your dear one. May comfort come in many ways to you each as you walk out these days, weeks & months to come. Warmly,

Mr. Oldfield, Gert, and Mary Beth,

This is a sad time for you, as it is for me,  at Bill's passing.  My condolences to you all.

It is no surprise to see the high professional regard his friends at IBM  expressed for him in this journal.  I knew  Bill  at  Lourdes, he was the Radar O'Reilly of the class, prodding his friends to always do better, to avoid trouble and to leave a lasting mark.  He was a leader even then.  You prepared him well to  be remembered by an army of friends for great achievements and his irrepressible nature.

Speaking for myself, I will remember his occasional exhortation that "this problem requires nothing short of genius!"

Be strong and find comfort in your family and friends.

I worked for Oldfield as part of the IBM GIS group he ran in Kingston NY in the 1980s and early 1990s.  For a time Oldfield was such an important part of my everyday life… he taught me the value of hard work, the value of supporting and believing in others, and the value of believing in myself.  As our careers changed and we chose different paths in life we drifted apart but I remember those lessons.  Just a few days before Oldfield died, I was able to visit with him and talk face to face for the first time in 20 years.  After a demo of his ridiculously over the top media system and a very fast ride in his souped up BMW to a restaurant for dinner we talked about his colleagues at IBM and about his family he cared deeply about both.  We made tentative plans to visit again this summer… I'm so sad that this won't happen but I'm grateful that we were able to reconnect again.

Our sympathy to the Oldfield family.Many
fond memories of days gone by.

Bill was my first manager at IBM. He pulled strings to get me in the door and got me my first promotion. We had a great team and I have the fondest memories of those early years at IBM. To this day, I cannot think of a team that was so tight, that worked so well together.  We then expanded greatly and were asked to do big things.  Unfortunately this did not happen - it was tough for all involved - a few stayed on, but  
most scattered to the winds  both in IBM and out.  During that time, I had the utmost respect for Bill, looked up to him, and he taught me much. 

He was a great guy. It doesn't seem fair that he has been taken from us at such a relatively young age. He will be missed.

After our team scattered, I did not keep in touch with Bill as much as I had hoped.  But recently I left IBM and Bill was one of those who responded with words of encouragement.  I followed up to his e-mail and he responded again with even kinder words. We talked about meeting again, but alas, this will not happen. 

Bill, you were a great person. 
Rest in peace dude - we love you and will miss you.

Mike MacIsaac

You have my deepest sympathy on the loss of Bill. He will be missed but his memory will live on in all of who had the honor of knowing him. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

   I'm very sorry to hear of Bill's passing.  Oldfield (he was rarely "Bill") and I worked together on GFIS projects at IBM in Kingston, NY in the late 1980's.  He had tremendous energy and yet was very focused.  He was an astute observer of human behavior and motivation, which, with his great sense of humor, made him a good manager.
   Oldfield's cars were legendary.  Early in those years he was driving a "slightly" modified Volvo with dark tinted windows, all the chrome blackened, and a low front end.  Driving to work one morning my rear-view mirror suddenly went dark and Oldfield's Volvo filled the rear window; felt like being tailed by Darth Vader.
   Over the years I've thought of Oldfield often, and been guided by his example on more than one occasion.  Although we lost contact after those Kingston days, along with everyone else he touched I'll miss him.

I too knew him as "Billy" Oldfield, as our families were friends from IBM dating back to Owego in the startup days of the company. Billy was a couple of years older than me, and I always thought he was SMART, funny and cool...I hope he's resting in peace above us with those headphones on listening to a choice Deep Purple album! Sympathies go out to "Mrs. O.", my good friend over these many years, and all of her family.

Bill was the big brother I never had. We shared many life changing events - both joyous and sad. He once shared with me part of the poem, People Come Into Your Life For A Reason, A Season or A Lifetime...I will feel forever blessed for the seasons of my life shared with Bill. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. May knowing the "light of friendship, love and support" he was to others bring you comfort. My life is that much richer for having known Bill.

Gert,
May the prayers of friends support you and your family during this difficult time.
Patti Hashagen

I have had the good fortune of knowing Bill for the past 27 years. What began as a business relationship at IBM in 1987 grew into a cherished friendship over the years. Starting with our very first meeting, it was clear to me that "Oldfield", as he preferred to be called ,was a very perceptive, technically astute, and clear thinking individual, with an engaging sense of humor. But what truly set him apart was his sincere concern for the welfare of people that worked for and with him.  Always an excellent judge of skill and character, he possessed the enviable ability to mentor and coach others to excel. This benefited not only the people that he worked with, but the products they developed and the customers they delivered them to. "Oldfield" and I worked together  on a number of projects over the years, but it wasn't until our career paths diverged , and  in particular, after I retired from IBM that I realized what a special friend Bill was. Whether it was a phone call, an e-mail, or going out to dinner and a movie,  he never failed to maintain contact. Bill was always looking to help not only me, but my wife and family whenever he could, and we all loved him for it. When it came to business, "Oldfield" was an absolute professional. When it came to integrity, loyalty, generosity,wit and compassion,  Bill was the ultimate friend. Each of us that he touched, and we are many, will miss him greatly.

Bill was a wonderful colleague and I am blessed to have worked with him and know him.  My prayers and condolences to all his many friends and family. Mary (Mollison) Coucher

I did not know Bill but know his mother, Gert, as a fellow volunteer at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.  Gert, you and your family are in my thoughts & prayers.

Sorry for your loss. Heartfelt sympathy to the family during this time. "Those we hold closest to our hearts never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives. " anonymous

I am so saddened to hear of Bill's passing.  We worked together at IBM several years ago.  He was a wonderful person.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family and Patricia, whom I also worked with in the past.

Bill & I were friends since high school, and I have many great memories of our adventures together.  He will be sorely missed.  My condolences to his entire family.

Bill was a wonderful guy...funny, witty, sarcastic, and extremely intelligent.  It's odd to refer to him "Bill" because he preferred to be called Oldfield.  We worked together at IBM for a number of years and he always made things better by not only his work ethic and technical skill, but also by his humor. He sent out the very best emails I've ever read and his observations about people were worthy of a book. He made my life easier and those emails honestly would make my day.    The last time I saw him was a few years ago at friends' wedding, and he was just as charming as ever.  I'm so glad to think of him that way - dressed up, looking sharp, courteous, ironic,  and, of course, funny.  He will be missed.

Our deepest sympathy to Bill's family.  We are sorry for your loss.
           Bob and Tomiko Rago

May the good memories of Bill sustain you....    May you find comfort in a favourite passage that has comforted me through the years:

    Do Not Look with Fear

    Do not look with fear
    on the changes and chances of this life;
    rather look to them with full faith that as they arise,
    God – whose you are – will deliver you out of them.

    He has kept you hitherto.
    Do not but hold fast to His dear hand,
    and he will lead you safely through all things;
    and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms.

    Do not anticipate what will happen tomorrow.
    The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
    will take care of you tomorrow and every day.
    Either He will shield you from suffering or
    He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

    Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts
    And imaginations.

    - St. Francis de Sales

We worked together closely at IBM Kingston on the GFIS products and its follow-on from 1988 - 1993.  Bill was one of the most technically astute professionals I have worked with. Riding with him in his BMW M3 was a memorable experience!

He will always be Billy to me.  We worked at IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY in late 70s..he was fresh out of college and got his first BMW.  Lots of fun running forecasts for SCF.  Bill was smart, innovative and just fun to be around.  RIP..

Bill was a colleague and dear friend, and one of the most brilliant and compassionate people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. We will miss him dearly.

OBITUARY

William Thomas Oldfield, Jr.

April 17, 1955 – May 1, 2014

Apex Funeral Home

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