William Prentice Vanneck

Bill was born in New York, NY. His parents were John and Barbara Bailey Vanneck of New Rochelle, NY and Palm Beach, FL. Maternal grandparents were Frank and Marie Bailey of Locust Valley, NY. Bill attended Palm Beach Private School and Rye Country Day School (eventually serving on the board), and The Choate School, class of 1958. He graduated from Union College in 1962 where he later became a trustee of the college for many years and was greatly influential in improving the athletic campus of the school. After graduation, he worked for Bankers Trust before joining his family’s business. He also served on the board for the Florida East Coast Railway and the Vanneck-Bailey Foundation.

While living in Rye, NY, Bill was a member of The Apawamis Club, were he served as President, Manursing Island Club, and American Yacht Club. In Palm Beach, FL, he was a member of the Palm Beach Bath & Tennis Club, Everglades Club, and the Sailfish Club. He enjoyed golf, hunting and shooting, boating and skiing. He was an ardent fan of The NY Rangers and the Yankees. With his brother and mother, they founded Witsend’s Breeders, which bred, raised, and raced world class Standardbred trotting and pacing horses.

Bill, having raised four children with first wife Nancy Hoehn, leaves behind: John L Vanneck (Kimberly) of Rye, NY, Christine W Vanneck (Mark Brown) of Hendersonville, NC, Richard P Vanneck (Liza) of Delray Beach, FL, and Sandra B Vanneck of West Palm Beach, FL. He was the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren; Lindsay, Sarah, William, Henry, Richard (Max), Cooper, Thomas, and Paige. He was predeceased by his wife (Ann), and three siblings, Louise Konopka, John Vanneck, Barbara May, and his nephew, Raymond Konopka.

Bill married Ann in August 1999, during their near 20 year marriage, they enjoyed fine dining, traveling to all seven continents, often by cruise ships. They also traveled with the company of their kids and grandchildren. They enjoyed entertaining, golf, tennis, flowers, nature, wildlife and most of all their Shih-Tzus.

Bill brought much laughter to his family and friends with his dynamic sense of humor and will be missed by all who loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Palm Beach, Florida; TBD.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.