Michael P.A. Williams 3/26/2022

Michael Peter Anthony Williams passed away on March 26. He had calmly and courageously battled cancer for two and a half years, remaining active until the end of February.

Mike was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on September 1, 1945, the first son of Dr. Francis P. A. Williams and Elsie Blight Williams. As a child he lived on the family farm in Stepney, Connecticut and enjoyed endless adventures in the surrounding fields and woods with his siblings, his cousins who lived on the adjacent farm, and a wonderful selection of kids from the neighborhood. Later the family moved to Rowledge Pond where Mike’s natural curiosity and love of the outdoors was nurtured by the lake, streams, and cliffs of that woodland reserve.

Mike graduated from Wilbraham Academy in 1963, after which he spent a year as an E.S.U. exchange student at Cranleigh School in Surrey, England. He then received a B.A. degree from Boston University and went on to get his law degree from The Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He practiced law in Connecticut for 40 years, as a partner at Marsh, Day & Calhoun in Bridgeport and Southport and then at Harlow, Adams & Friedman in Milford. Mike was deeply committed to public service and served on a number of boards including the Trumbull Board of Education, the Aquaculture Foundation, and Beth-El Center.

Mike was an avid and accomplished sailor, boatman and fisherman. He spent many happy hours on the waters of Long Island Sound, Penobscot Bay, the North Carolina coast, and at his brother’s cottage on Lake

Weslemkoon in Ontario, Canada. Mike remained active and engaged in retirement. He moved to North Carolina and settled in the town of Southport. From there, he traveled frequently to visit with family and his many friends, and farther afield to destinations in Europe. Mike taught himself Italian and journeyed to Italy several times, improving his mastery of the language and exploring that nation’s rich culture and cuisine. His favorite expedition was what he called ‘The Williams Brothers Heritage Tour’, on which he and his brother Brian wandered through Wales, Cornwall and Guernsey, visiting places where their relatives had lived.

In the last month of his life, Mike moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to be closer to his family. During that period he was able to spend quality time with all his children, grandchildren and siblings. He died peacefully in his sleep. Michael is survived by his two siblings and their families, Brian (Judy) Williams of Milton, Ontario, Canada and Mary (Michael) Horovitz of Smyrna, Georgia; his children, Greyson (Ariana) Williams, Trevor (Meg) Williams, Meredith (Ira Kreisman) Williams, Tristan Williams; and five grandchildren, all of Charlottesville, Virginia.