William Mansfield

Wilmington native, William Miles Mansfield, Jr., died at his home Monday afternoon, September 12, 2022. He is survived by his wife Lisa and daughter Lauren. Bill was born on April 13, 1947, to Eloise Maultsby Mansfield and William M. Mansfield. He attended Chestnut School, New Hanover High School, and graduated from UNC-Wilmington in 1973 after serving in the United States Navy. In 1974, Bill married Lisa Friederichs, whom he first met on the sand dunes near Masonboro Island. Ten years later he became a father when his daughter Lauren was born.

Continuously reinventing himself and always striving for personal growth, Bill began his career at the Institute of Marine Biomedical Research at Wrightsville Beach, where he researched high pressure neurology. He later changed career paths and worked with fiber optic cable production at Corning in Wilmington. After his retirement from Corning, Bill became the Safety Manager for Carolina Marine Terminal until his retirement in 2020.

Bill’s loves were the ocean, diving, boats, Key West, and his family. As an avid diver and underwater photographer, Bill shared his love of the ocean by speaking to school groups when his daughter was young, and through his published photographs and magazine articles. Bill also served on the Spiny Lobster Advisory Panel of the South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council for many years.

Donations in Bill’s memory can be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice.

A celebration of his life is planned for a later date in October.