William 'Bill' McChesney Jr.

William “Bill” McChesney Jr., died of cancer on November 17.

McChesney grew up in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, attended Choate, Princeton, and Columbia Business School before starting a long career with Chemical Bank. He left Chemical Bank to pursue his passion for environmental causes and headed the New Jersey office of the Trust for Public Land, as well as time with The Regional Plan Association. During this time, he was a founding member and president of the Harding Land Trust in Harding Township, New Jersey.

After he retired to Quogue, he was chairman of the board of The Group for the East End, an environmental advocacy and educational group in Suffolk County. He served as a governor of the Ardsley Country Club, Morris County Golf Club and the Quogue Field Club, where he was golf chairman for six years. Survivors said he was a brilliant golfer and an unabashed anglophile. He loved Great English choral music, opera, British football, and Dover sole.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Deni; as well as two sons, Jacques and Tom; three grandchildren, Dexter, Cecelia and Beau; and his beloved West Highland terrier, Birdie.

There will be a private service at the Quogue Cemetery, and a memorial service on June 3 at St. Marks Church in Westhampton Beach.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for any contribution to The Group for the East End, PO Box 1792, Southold, NY, 11971.