Bill Luddy died peacefully and without pain, surrounded by his wife and family, on February 12, 2021.  

Bill was born on January 14, 1947 in New Britain Connecticut to Mildred and William Luddy, Sr.   He attended St. Joseph School in New Britain, St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, CT and St. Thomas Aquinas School in New Britain.  He received his BS from Fairfield University, his Masters at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Law Degree from the...

Bill Luddy died peacefully and without pain, surrounded by his wife and family, on February 12, 2021.  

Bill was born on January 14, 1947 in New Britain Connecticut to Mildred and William Luddy, Sr.   He attended St. Joseph School in New Britain, St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, CT and St. Thomas Aquinas School in New Britain.  He received his BS from Fairfield University, his Masters at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his Law Degree from the University of Connecticut.   He was a Professor in the MBA and executive programs of the Hartford branch of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he also served as Dean.  He taught most of the courses in the programs, focusing on Business Policy and Strategy, Ethics, Law, and Corporate Governance.  In this capacity, Bill instructed and mentored thousands of students and other professors in preparing for their professional lives, and in teaching them values that would assure that they made a contribution in their fields.

Bill also worked with the United Nations, helping to craft underlying legal frameworks to support global electronic commerce.  He then worked with many US and international organizations including the WCO, ASEAN, the World Bank, the State Department and others.  He travelled to many countries throughout the Far and Middle East, Africa, South America, Russia and Europe.  The overarching purpose of this work was to foster global economic cooperation and to help developing countries to improve the standard of living for their citizens.  Bill had an extraordinary mind, far-reaching vision, and the ability to bring people together.  He is respected, trusted and loved all over the world.  

We are proud of his many accomplishments, but this is not the main thing we want to say about Bill.  Bill was also a humble person who respected the dignity and worth of every human being.  He treated everyone kindly and with respect.  He was always ready with encouragement.  He believed in people, saw the best in people and celebrated their success.  He wanted us to do what was right for us and to find that for ourselves.  He helped us all to do more and be more than we ever thought we could be.  He was always proud to share his family’s achievements with others.  As the people who were lucky enough to be his family, we always knew that he loved us deeply.  We always knew we were the most important thing in his life.  He always made sure that we knew.

Bill treasured Block Island.  He loved the sea.  He loved his life and the community here, he loved his many friends and colleagues both here and overseas, and he also loved our many, cherished friends.

This is written by his family with deep love, deep grief and with gratitude:  By Grace Luddy, his wife.  By Kevin Luddy, his son, with Royah Ansari Luddy and their children, Julian, Oliver and new baby William, born just a few hours after Bill died.  By Emily Luddy, his daughter, with Joshua Childs.  By Richard Luddy, his brother, with Joan Luddy.  By Maryann Swanson, his sister, with Gary Swanson.

Bill will be buried on Block Island.  We are going to have an amazing gathering for our friends and family when it is possible to do so.  

Donations can be made in Bill’s memory to the Block Island Medical Center or to UNICEF.