William Barnum Wickwire – September 30, 2022
from Legacy.com
William Barnum Wick wire, 76, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on Sept. 30, 2022, at the CT Hospice in Branford. He was the loving and devoted husband for 42 years of Joellen DeRoma Wickwire.
Bill was born Aug. 15, 1946, in Syracuse, NY, a son of the late Lyman and Jeanne Barnum Wickwire. He was raised in Homer, NY, and was a graduate of Yale University, Class of 1969. He then went to the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder, CO, graduating in 1972.
He practiced law in New Haven as a sole practitioner during the 1970s, and in 1979 he was appointed Prosecutor, States Attorney’s Office, Division of Criminal Justice for the Superior Court Juvenile Matters in New London County until he retired in 2009.
He was a member of the CT Bar Association, the Knights of Columbus, St. Paul VI Council # 14664 and was an active member of St. Paul VI Parish, St. Rita Church where he was a Eucharistic Minister and served on the Parish Council.
Bill loved life. He was so happy when spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed Broadway shows, movies, sports, especially the NewYork Yankees, Syracuse University Basketball, the WNBA, college and pro football; trips to Cape Cod, California, Nova Scotia, the Southwest, Italy and any opportunity to see The Rolling Stones in concert.
Bill was a kind and loyal friend to everyone who knew him. He was dedicated to his profession and felt it was an honor to serve the State of CT citizens. He faced his health challenges with determination and grace. When asked how he was doing he would respond, “I’m doing my best. That’s all I can do.” Never an unkind word would he speak. His faith in God and desire to live life to the fullest was an inspiration to those who knew and loved him.
Survived by his wife, JoEllen “Missy”; a sister, Sherrill Torrey of West Barnstable, MA; his mother-in-law, Helen DeRoma of Hamden; brother-in-law and sister in-law, Joseph and Sandi DeRoma of Middlesex, NC; his loving nephew and niece, Shane and Bryana Weymer and their three children of La Grange, NC; also, a niece, nephews, cousins and devoted friends who Bill cherished.
Bill treasured his lifelong friendship with his childhood friend, Greg Jones and his wife, Dee of Baton Rouge, LA. He is also survived by his feline best buddy, Bailey. He was prede ceased by a brother, Lyman Wickwire, Jr.; and his father-in-law, Joseph DeRoma, Sr. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Paul VI Parish, St. Rita Church, Whitney Ave., Hamden. Entombment will follow in All Saints Cemetery Mausoleum, North Haven. Calling hours at Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden, will be Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of YNHH, MICU 9th Floor, and CT Hospice in Branford, for their compassionate and loving end-of-life care to Bill. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bill’s memory to St. Paul VI Parish, 1620 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06517, or the CT Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405.
Pictures from the funeral home website:
I was quite saddened to see the news of Bill’s passing in our Yale 1969 class newsletter. Bill was a great friend and fellow adventurer during our time at Yale – someone I always could rely on to share, or often create a fun time. Later on, I always looked forward to seeing him at reunions and other events, when immediately it would seem we had never separated from our school time together. Seeing Bill was always a very bright spot in whatever time we were sharing. He had a way of making me feel like one of the most important people in the world to him during those times, even though unfortunately we saw each other only once in a while. I knew he was dealing with health challenges, but they never seemed to get him down. Bill was a special spirit in many ways and I will miss him. He is one of those special people it is hard to imagine not there.
I was quite saddened to see the news of Bill’s passing in our Yale 1969 class newsletter. Bill was a great friend and fellow adventurer at Pierson College during our time at Yale – someone I always could rely on to share, or often create a fun time. Later on, I always looked forward to seeing him at reunions and other events, when immediately it would seem we had never separated from our school time together. Seeing Bill was always a very bright spot in whatever time we were sharing. He had a way of making me feel like one of the most important people in the world to him during those times, even though unfortunately we saw each other only once in a while. I knew he was dealing with health challenges, but they never seemed to get him down. Bill was a special spirit in many ways and I will miss him. He is one of those special people it is hard to imagine not there.
Alan Hurwitz