William Bigelow Magrath's Obituary
William B. Magrath
Easton, William B. Magrath, a retired civil engineer who was active in yachting and his church died Sunday at Easton Memorial Hospital following complications from a fall. Until a year ago he had lived in St. Michaels with his wife of 63 years who predeceased him by two weeks. He was 90 years old.
Prior to his retirement in 1984, Mr. Magrath worked for Dorr-Oliver, Inc. in New York City and Stamford, Connecticut for over 40 years in the design and manufacture of industrial and municipal water treatment equipment. His inventions, which included methods and equipment for water treatment, were awarded patents and are still in application today. He was a graduate of the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, now a part of New York University, and he was elected to Chi Epsilon, the United State’s national honorary civil engineering society.
During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Corp in England, France and Germany as a weather observer and was decorated for service in support of the air offensive in Europe. In 1994 the French Government presented him with the Victory Medal at the Abbey of the Dames in Caens for his participation in the liberation of Normandy. His brother, PFC John David Magrath was killed in combat in Italy while serving with the 10th Mountain Division and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry Truman.
Mr. Magrath was born in Norwalk, CT, the third of four sons of the late Gerry C. and Anna Radman Magrath. He was also preceded in death by his elder brothers Frederick C. Magrath and Gerry A. Magrath. After returning from service in Europe, he married Elaine Beolchi in 1948 and they raised two children who survive them; Jean Galloway of Wilton, Connecticut and St. Michaels, MD, and William B. Magrath of Washington D.C. and Bozman, MD.
An avid boater from his youth on Long Island Sound to cruising and sailboat racing on the Chesapeake during his retirement, he was past Commodore of the Greenwich Cove Racing Association and the Old Greenwich Yacht Club and Past Commander of the Sound Beach Power Squadron. For many years he was active in teaching all aspects of safe boating to adults and young people and was recognized with life membership in the US Power Squadron. He was also a past member of the Riverside Yacht Club, the Miles River Yacht Club and the Miles River Sail and Power Squadron. He had served in the Vestry of St. Paul’s and of St. Saviors Episcopal Churches in Riverside and Old Greenwich, CT and at the time of his death was a member of Christ Church, St. Michaels. He was a lifetime member of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division. In retirement he and his wife also traveled extensively with trips to China, Thailand, Italy, France, England and Scotland and they restored several houses in the St. Michaels area.
He is also survived by his children’s spouses and by four grandchildren; Jennifer Matachuk of Framington, MA, Stephanie Toreson of Chicago, IL, Allison Galloway of Bridgeport, CT and Samantha Magrath of Washington, D.C. and one great-grandson, Connor Joseph Toreson.
A Funeral Service will be held at the Hurley & Ostrowski Funeral Home P.A. ST. Michaels, MD., on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 5:00PM. Where friends may visit from 4:00 until 5:00. Burial will be in Valhalla, N.Y. on Saturday March 17th at 2:00PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Talbot Co. Humane Society, P.O. Box 1143, Easton, MD 21601, or to the St. Michaels Fire Dept. 1001 S. Talbot St., St. Michaels, MD 21663. (for on-line condolences visit www. hurleyostrowski.com
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