William Kennedy Wakefield, of Princeton, died at home, surrounded by his family, on May 5. Bill is survived by Pam, his wife of 63 years, their children Wendy Davis, JB Wakefield, and Liza Peck, and Wendy’s husband, Steve Heaps. He leaves 13 grandchildren: Kylie, Dana, and Will Davis; Will, Tess, Gray, and Drew Wakefield; Griffin, Kirby, Merritt, and Sawyer Peck; and Owen and Emma Heaps; three grandsons-in-law Doug Shapiro, Jason Yanowitz, Kevin Halliday; and a great-grandchild, Adair Shapiro-Davis. He also leaves a sister Roxanne White and her husband David as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.
Bill was born on June 8, 1939 to Harold “Wake” Wakefield and Nancy Kennedy Wakefield in Montclair, NJ. A graduate of Montclair High School, he earned a degree in engineering from Cornell University. Bill started his business career with General Motors in Ohio, then moved on to Exxon and overseeing major projects worldwide, including an assignment with his family for three years in Exxon’s London office.
He continued his international work with FMC Corporation, leaving FMC as Director of Engineering and Construction. Bill completed his business career with Wakefield Consulting which he established in 1999 to provide training and management consulting to construction and engineering firms. In addition to industrial work, he managed a number of local projects, including the renovated Springdale Golf Club and the headquarters for Music Together.
Throughout his career, Bill served in leadership roles with industry associations such as The Business Roundtable Construction Committee and the Design-Build Institute of America. Bill’s partners in every endeavor respected his guidance and practical wisdom. He was also a reliable problem solver for family and friends, meeting challenges ranging from furniture assembly and overworked plumbing to managing the inevitable issues in timing and scope that are the hallmark of any building project.
As a Princeton resident, Bill engaged in a rich array of volunteer activities He was a member of the Site Plan Review Advisory Board and the Regional Planning Board of Princeton, as well as serving on the Boards of The Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, First Friends (which serves immigrant detainees at the Elizabeth Detention Center), The Paul Robeson House of Princeton, and the Trenton Children’s Chorus. Bill was also an active member of The Campaign to End the New Jim Crow, served as a mentor to at-risk youth for Corner House and the YMCA, and, most recently, assisted asylum seekers through Solidaridad.
Additionally, Bill was an Elder and Deacon of Nassau Presbyterian Church, where he was a leader in the church’s outreach efforts for social justice and, specifically, advocacy for immigration reform and immigrant rights. He chaired the Presbytery of New Brunswick’s task forces on Immigration and Mass Incarceration and led major renovations of Nassau Church. In 2016, Bill was awarded the “Bud” Vivian award by the Princeton Area Community Foundation in recognition of his advocacy and work on social justice issues. Bill was deeply loved and respected by the Nassau Church community. Their faith, care and support lightened his last months.
At heart, Bill was an adventurer who chose a career that allowed him to travel widely. He never said no to an exotic dish, sometimes to the dismay of his family, and took every opportunity to explore the sea under sail or while decked out in scuba gear or both. He was pleased that he shares his birthday with World Oceans Day. His intellectual, spiritual and physical strengths sustained his family through times of despair while his generous spirit buoyed the family’s joyous moments. In his final days, Bill was grateful for an ‘exit ramp’ which allowed him time for visits with family and dear friends. He loved hearing the hubbub of a large family downstairs while he rested upstairs with his wife Pam who was his cherished companion on every journey including his final battle with cancer.
A service is planned for Sunday, June 8, at 2 p.m. at the Princeton Theological Seminary Chapel with a reception to follow at Nassau Presbyterian Church.
To honor Bill’s memory, gifts may be directed to Mission and Outreach/Wakefield Memorial Fund at Nassau Presbyterian Church (nassauchurch.org) or sent to the church office at 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. The fund will be used to ensure the equitable and compassionate treatment of immigrants.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
