Obituary of N. William Atwater

 N. William Atwater, age 84 of Tewksbury Township/Chatham, Mass, passed away peacefully at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on January 12, 2019 surrounded by family. 

Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania to Neil and Mildred (Schmidt) Atwater, Bill received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology.  Upon graduating, Bill began a 43-year career with Foster Wheeler Corporation, a global engineering and construction firm.  At retirement, he was Executive Vice President of the Engineering and Construction Group and President and CEO of Foster Wheeler International, responsible for the company’s business with the petroleum, chemical, power, pharmaceutical and environmental industries.

In retirement Bill was an active member of the Hunterdon Healthcare Board, serving for more than two decades, including five years as board chair.  In November, in recognition of his exceptional leadership and contribution to the hospital, he received the “Spirit of Hunterdon” Award.  Eager to share his wisdom and experience, Bill also served on boards at Stevens, Raritan Valley Community College and the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University.

Bill was a lifelong tennis player and a founding member of the Tewksbury Tennis Association.  He also enjoyed his annual ski trips with family and friends, as well as summers on Cape Cod, where he was a docent at the Chatham Windmill and member of the Monomoy Yacht Club.  His whistling, limoncello, “legendary” compote and basement furniture projects will be sorely missed.  

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Susan, his sisters, Mimi Iacone (Jim) and Christine Dermody, his children Meg Guldner (Bob), Peter (Janet), and John (Jennifer), as well as nieces and nephews.  To his grandchildren, Brennan, Owen and Sutton Guldner, Molly, Bennett, Brian, Katie and Hannah Atwater, he will forever be GramBill.

Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Brigid Church, 129 Main Street, Peapack New Jersey on Friday January 18, 2019 at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow at the Oldwick Fire House.  Burial will be private.  In lieu of flowers, please contribute to an organization whose purpose you and Bill supported together. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Kearns Funeral Home in Whitehouse. For more information or to send condolences please visit kearnsfuneralhome.com.