William Gieg

William Frederick Gieg, 73, a resident of Deltaville, Virginia, and former resident of Richmond, died at his home on November 27, 2013. Born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania in the midst of WWII, Bill’s family moved often, living in Philadelphia, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, and Connecticut. He graduated Western Reserve Academy in Hudson Ohio, and entered Yale University, graduating with a degree in engineering in 1962. He went to work for Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, designing water cooling systems for nuclear submarines. He married Gretchen Tiffany in 1964. Seeking a change from engineering, Bill returned to school, this time at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, from which he graduated in 1968. He joined the firm of McGuire, Woods and Battle in Richmond, VA out of law school and stayed until his retirement in 2010. A life-long sailor, Bill was a member of Fishing Bay Yacht Club and was actively involved with the sailing community. His permanent move to Deltaville a number of years ago had long been a dream. He embraced the Deltaville community as a whole and the Maritime Museum in particular. Bill was always seeking new challenges and one of the highlights of his life was the father-son Atlantic passage which he and several close friends undertook in 1985. A perpetual student, Bill continued to master new roles as varied as organic gardener, ham radio operator, navigation instructor for the power squadron, Angel Flight pilot and master diver. Within the past few years, he has put his nautical skills to work as a volunteer with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, achieving the rank of coxswain just last year. For this, he transitioned from his love of sailing to the world of power boats. Mourning his passing are his daughter, Jennifer; son, David (Jenny); grandchildren, Katherine Clark, Lindsey Margaret and Patrick William (who knew him as their Daddy Bill); Gretchen Hensel; sister, Durga Smallen; brothers, Todd and Chuck; stepmother, Edith Gieg; nephew, Dwayne Smallen; longtime friend Dianna Morely; and many devoted friends and colleagues. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014, at the Deltaville Maritime Museum. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Deltaville Maritime Museum, 287 Jackson Creek Road, Deltaville, VA 23043.