Theodore "Bill" William Alexander III

Theodore William “Bill” Alexander III, age 77, died on Wednesday, January 11, at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga following a stroke. He will be remembered for his love of cats and critters, his mischievous sense of humor, and his devotion to his family.

Bill was born in Auburn, Alabama, on December 26, 1945, to Theodore “Ted” William Alexander Jr. and Dorothy “Dottie” Zachry Alexander. Because of Ted’s service in the Air Force and his work at DuPont, Bill lived in various places, including Chattanooga; Ft. Walton Beach, FL; Wilmington, DE; and Notasulga, AL, where he spent time with Dottie’s father, his beloved “Papa.” Among his many living situations, he described the time he spent with Ted at the Chattanooga YMCA—months they spent eating through the city’s restaurants and reading together in the evening—as “one of the highlights of my life.” Bill loved sports and participated in football, track, and swimming during high school. He was a strong swimmer and was on relay teams that set several Southeastern AAU records. He graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1963.

Bill followed in the footsteps of his parents by attending their alma mater, Auburn University, where he ran track under Olympic coach Mel Rosen. He initially intended to be an architect but quickly learned that his strengths rested elsewhere. He worked himself through college and received an ROTC scholarship. He met Sharon Williams, his wife of more than 52 years, in a Russian History course at Auburn in January 1970. “Though I was not looking for a permanent relationship I fell in love immediately,” Bill recalled. They were married seven months later, on July 11, 1970.

Bill was commissioned into the Army in 1970. He attended Airborne School and then Ranger School at Ft. Benning, where he graduated at the top of his class and stayed on as an instructor. In 1971, he was ordered to Vicenza, Italy, where he served on active duty until 1974. During his service, he coached football and track at a local American high school, participated in an expedition to climb the Matterhorn, and earned a master’s degree in international relations through a Boston University program. He and Sharon spent the autumn of 1974 traveling in a converted van around Europe—Yugoslavia, Italy, Munich for a memorable Oktoberfest, and Malaga, Spain, where they took Spanish lessons together. It was in Italy where Bill began cultivating his lifelong love of wine, which he shared with friends and family at many memorable meals throughout his life.

Upon his return from Europe, Bill attended Columbia University and completed the required coursework and exams for a PhD in international relations. He also took courses at Columbia Business School. Rather than writing a dissertation, he chose to support his growing family by taking employment at Chase Manhattan Bank. He later worked for other banks while living with his family in New Jersey and for many years also served in the Army Special Forces Reserves. In 1990, he moved to M&T Bank in Buffalo, New York, where he was the president of M&T Capital. Beginning in the mid-1990s, he worked independently with a number of companies, including chairing a company in London, England. Well into his 70s, he was still active in business. At the time of his death, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Highview Healthcare Partners, a healthcare staffing company based in Boston and Buffalo. Outside of his work, he was a lifelong learner and always loved to read, particularly on history, physics, and the relationship between science and religion.

Though known by many of his peers as a successful businessman with an imposing intellect, Bill’s family will always think of him first as a devoted husband, father, and (like his own grandfather) “Papa.”

His eldest child, Christie, was born in 1979, followed by Jessica in 1981 and Doug in 1984. In 1995, Bill and Sharon’s two nephews—Jim, 9, and John, 11—moved from Alabama to Buffalo after their parents’ deaths. The boys thrived with the Alexanders as their parents and siblings. This generous act of love was seen as heroic by some of their friends, but Bill and Sharon always took it as a given that they would raise those boys as their own. For the rest of his life, Bill saw himself as the father of five children and took great pride in all of their accomplishments. He collected coffee mugs from each of their alma maters and scolded anyone who tried to put them in the dishwasher where they could fade. He loved presiding over large family gatherings and playing with his five grandchildren, two of whom (Billie, the eldest, and Alexander, the youngest) were named in his honor.

After raising and launching five children, Bill and Sharon relocated from Buffalo to Chattanooga, where they enjoyed spending time with Bill’s parents in their later years. Avid hikers and bikers, they spent much time outdoors. They loved to travel and spent time in London, France, Italy, and the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where they participated in bike tours and enjoyed the area’s wineries. They maintained friendships with people from all over the world.

One of the family’s most cherished traditions in the last decade of Bill’s life was planning an elaborate multi-course meal for his birthday, complete with wine pairings, the day after Christmas. Though his children now live in far-flung states, they always looked forward to coming together for the holidays, and Bill’s birthday dinner was a highlight of the annual gathering. Less than two weeks before his unexpected and sudden death, he enjoyed a particularly fun visit with all of his children and grandchildren. As they grieve their beloved Papa, Dad, and Uncle Bill, his family will be forever grateful for this meaningful time together.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sharon; his children Christie Alexander (Shaun Littman), Jessica Alexander (Vi Khi Nao), John Williams (Eliza Borné), and Doug Alexander (Angie Turner); his grandchildren Billie Littman, Ryland Littman, Madeleine Borné-Williams, Augustus Alexander, and Alexander Borné-Williams; and his sisters Lisa Alexander (Tom Jones) and Suzelle White (Earl). He was predeceased by his parents, Ted and Dottie, and his son, James Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Appalachian Trail Conservancy. A memorial service will be held at 9:30 am on Monday, January 16, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Hwy 153, Hixson, TN 37343. Interment will follow in Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.