William Kaelin Dies At 82

William G. Kaelin

William G. Kaelin of Connecticut, who spent his summers in Southampton, died at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston on Sunday, August 28. He was 82.

Born to William C. and Katheryn Kaelin (née Graf) in East Rockaway, “Bill,” as he was known, graduated from Duke University and the Duke University School of Law and began his legal career at Kramer, Marx, Greenlee & Backus in Manhattan in 1954. He later served as counsel to Healy & Baillie LLP. in Manhattan, and as general counsel to the New York office of Gill & Duffus, a commodities trading firm based in the U.K., before practicing law full time on his own. He also earned an advanced law degree in taxation from the New York University School of Law.

Mr. Kaelin was an avid fisherman who spent every moment he could on Shinnecock Bay and Inlet. As a member of the Shinnecock Marlin and Tuna Club, he always participated in fishing tournaments. Mr. Kaelin kept his boat at Jackson Marina in Hampton Bays and was friends with many local fishermen.

“His love was the Shinnecock Inlet and Bay,” said his son Michael Kaelin. “Right over the fireplace at his home in Vermont is a very large and detailed aerial picture of Shinnecock Bay.”

As a boy, Mr. Kaelin spent summers in the Hamptons and stayed with his aunt who had a house on Ocean View Drive. Later, he bought his own home on Cedar Drive in Southampton.

He is survived by his children, William Jr. and his wife Carolyn Kaelin of Massachusetts, Michael and Carol Kaelin of Connecticut, Thomas and Linda Kaelin of Connecticut, Margaret and Glen Holland of Massachusetts, and Robert and Linda Kaelin of Connecticut; a sister, Ann Moran of Sound Beach; 15 grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Mr. Kaelin was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur and Robert Kaelin; and his former wife, the mother of his five children, Nancy Kaelin.

A funeral Mass took place on Friday, September 2, at St. Paul Church in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Interment followed at Holy Cross Cemetery in Glastonbury. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Mulryan Funeral Home, also in Glastonbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Kaelin Laboratory at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445, with a notation that the donation is in memory of William G. Kaelin Sr.