William W. Olmstead

William W. Olmstead of Chestertown, MD died on July 19, 2003 at Chester River Hospital Center in Chestertown, MD. He was 86. Born March 10, 1917 in Hempstead, NY, he was the son of the late Frederic W. and Gwendolyn Gillen Olmstead. Mr. Olmstead was educated in Saint Paul’s School in Garden City, L.I., New York graduating in 1934, Dartmouth College where he earned a B.A. in 1938, and Thayer School of Engineering (Dartmouth) where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1939. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 until 1946 during WWII, in the South Pacific for two years and Stateside. He served in the Civil Engineer Corps where he was officer in charge of the construction of the U.S. Naval Air Station in Willow Grove, PA, the U.S. Naval Aviation Supply Depot in Philadelphia, Pa., and several other projects in the U.S. Navy Yard in Philadelphia. Mr. Olmstead worked with Irwin & Leighton, Inc. from 1946 until 1979. There he served in many capacities rising to President in 1956 and Chairman of the Board in 1964. He retired in 1979. He then worked as an independent Construction Consultant serving as project manager for the expansion of the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia from 1980 until 1983. Mr. Olmstead was Chairman of the Board with the Vanguard School, Chairman of the Board of Waverly Heights LTD, President – Dartmouth Society of Engineers, President of the General Building Contractors Assoc., and President of the Merion Golf Club. He also served on the following Boards: Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, Academy of Natural Sciences, Williamson School, Merion Golf Club, Merion Cricket Club, Vanguard School, Waverly Heights, LTD, Devon Horse Show, United Fund of Kent County, and Friends of Mt. Harman. Mr. Olmstead was a member of the Association of General Contractors and the American Arbitration Association. He was also a member of Racquet Club, Pine Valley Golf Club, Carpenters Company, USSGA, Merion Golf Club, Dartmouth Club, and Chester River Yacht and Country Club. He enjoyed golfing and boating. Mr. Olmstead was predeceased by his first wife, the late, Edith Crawford Olmstead. He is survived by his second wife, Marillyn Olmstead; his son, William Neergaard Olmstead of Basking Ridge, NJ and his daughter, Cary Olmstead Poropatich of Bethesda, MD and four grandchildren. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, July 24, 2003 at 11:00 A.M. at Shrewsbury Episcopal Church in Kennedyville, MD. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Friends of Mt. Harmon, P.O. Box 65, Earleville, MD 21919 or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home,P.A., Chestertown, MD.