William Reginald Seabrook

On Saturday June 8, 2024, of Dunkirk, MD. Beloved husband for 45 years of Gay Ludington; father of Peter and Andrew (Molly); grandfather of Sybil and Rosemary; brother of Richard (Elizabeth), Margaret, and John (Joyce). He is also survived by many loving relatives in both the Seabrook and Ludington families.

After serving as an audio technician from 1963-1967 in the Air Force Band and reaching the rank of technical sergeant, Bill found his lifelong calling in public television. His career at WETA-TV (aka “Channel 26”) began in 1967 and spanned 55 years, much of which was spent working on the PBS NewsHour. A quiet leader and lifelong learner, Bill was part of the original team that built WETA’s identity, and his creativity and resourcefulness were legendary. Over the decades his ability to recall not just the technical workings of an ancient array of equipment but also the details and context of almost every piece of programming reveals a man with a profound feeling of connection and commitment to WETA’s core philosophy and mission. He found great satisfaction in his work as the guy who could fix anything in the station.

He also assisted with many theater productions at The Calverton School, introducing students to the fundamentals of audio and visual engineering, designing the lighting and sound for their shows, and ensuring the technology performed seamlessly.

Bill was an automobile and train enthusiast, owning and tinkering with MGs, Aston Martins, and Alfa Romeos over the years. With the “help” of his young sons he built a large and elaborate model train display in their basement, complete with city, mountain quarry, viaduct, and tunnel system. A longtime Kennedy Center season ticket holder, he greatly enjoyed attending ballet, theater, and musical performances for many decades there and elsewhere all over Maryland. An avid anglophile, Bill made many trips to the UK and in the 1970s Bill and Gay hiked the Lyke Wake Walk on England’s North York Moors. Together they also traveled to Romania, Hungary, Austria, Turkey, and Greece. On several of these trips they made lifelong friends with whom Bill still corresponded.

Relatives and friends may call at John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, MD 21401 on Thursday June 13th from 6-8pm and are also welcome at the funeral service on Friday, June 14th at 12 noon at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church located within Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401. The funeral service will also be streamed live at the following URL: youtube.com/watch?v=7ZMJgZm-A1E.

Bill devoted over half a century to public broadcasting in our nation’s capital. Honoring that commitment in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to WETA-TV online at give.weta.org/page/1292