William N. Letson 1930-2025

Bill was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 24, 1930, the only son of Ellen Shon and Benjamin Pascow. Sadly, when Bill was only 4 years-old, his father died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Following this tragedy, he and his mother returned to her native Sweden, where Bill attended first grade. The following year they went back to New York, where his mother met and married Benjamin Hugle Letson, who also was widowed and had a son, Thomas. Soon thereafter, a daughter, Britta was born. The family lived in Baldwin and Lynbrook, Long Island, New York, and Ironton, Ohio, finally settling in Champion, Ohio, where Ben, a master brick mason, was hired as a foreman to oversee the installation of firebrick linings in the blast furnaces at Copperweld Steel Co.

Bill graduated from Champion High School where he played several sports, attended Boys State, was senior class president and graduated with highest honors (Later, he would be inducted into the Champion High School Hall of Fame).

A brilliant student, Bill was accepted at Harvard College, where he majored in politics and history, graduating with honors. He then continued at Harvard Law where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude. Throughout life, his Harvard years would remain an overriding influence.

Bill began his law career in 1955 in New York City, with the prestigious Wall Street law firm of Sherman & Sterling. After eight years, he returned home to Warren, Ohio, and established the law firm, Letson & Letson, with his brother, Attorney Thomas C.B. Letson. His practice was mainly corporate, tax, mergers and personal estate planning.

In 1971, Bill received an appointment from President Richard M. Nixon to become the General Counsel of the United States Department of Commerce. In that post, he was not only in charge of the legal affairs of the Commerce Department but also was the spokesman for the department in a wide variety of legislative and administrative matters throughout the government, including Cabinet meetings with the President. Bill also served as a member of the United States delegation to the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics science and technology commissions and negotiated numerous agreements with the Soviets during the period of detente.

Upon leaving the Nixon administration, Bill was elected vice president, general counsel and secretary of Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa. During his time at Westinghouse, he was instrumental in developing their nuclear program and expanding the production of nuclear electrical energy.

Bill eventually left Westinghouse and became a partner at the renowned Chicago law firm of Schiff, Hardin & Waite. In that capacity, he established and was resident partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Then in 1979, he rejoined his brother in Warren, as senior partner, in the law firm of Letson, Griffith, Woodall, Lavelle & Rosenberg. As the firm evolved, Bill continued to practice law in Warren, until his retirement in 2012.

Bill was also a member of the Board of Governors of the Corporate Counsel Section of the Ohio Bar Association and sat on the Board of Directors of HNI Corporation, Heinz Corporation and the Pittsburgh YMCA. He was on the University Resources Board of Overseers of Harvard University and on the board of Trumbull Art Gallery (TAG) of Warren, a supporter of the St. Frances Center for the homeless, Denver, Colorado. He was a member of the Harvard Club NYC, Fox Chapel Country Club, Fox Chapel, Pa., Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, Pa., longtime member of the Buckeye Club, Warren, and 50-plus year member of Trumbull Country Club.

Bill was very generous with his time and talents and believed in giving back to the community; he was committed to organizations that valued education, economic redevelopment and assisting the less fortunate. To those ends, he co-founded and was first president of the Trumbull 100 of Warren, a philanthropic group of community leaders working to support education, enhance elementary school libraries and promote the economic future of Trumbull County. He was proud of the work accomplished.

In 1998, Bill met his future wife, Linda White, on a blind date orchestrated by their mutual friend, Ed Zamarelli. One year later, on Nov. 20, 1999, they were married and she remained the love of his life throughout their 25-plus years together. While in Warren, Bill and Linda were members of First Baptist Church and Howland Community Church.

A voracious reader with an encyclopedic knowledge of most subjects, Bill thrived on engaging in discussions of economics, the stock market, politics, history and current events. The consummate stock market “junkie,” Bill embraced the challenges of extensive research / study of the markets; he spoke almost daily (even from his hospital bed) to his broker and friend, Brad Harte and relished discussing stocks and politics with fellow investor and dear friend, Mark Schumann. Bill’s TV was continually tuned to CNBC, where he carefully listened to the financial anchors and enjoyed Jim Cramer.

Throughout his life, Bill loved to travel, enjoyed skiing, tennis, flyfishing, art, classical music and Ohio State football. He enjoyed the challenge of Duplicate Bridge, which he played weekly. He seldom missed a chance to golf (winning a few club tournaments in his day) and played until a couple of months before he passed. In fact, Bill and Linda moved from Denver, Colorado, in 2022, to the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, so he could enjoy more golf and walk the beach.

Most of all, he dearly loved his children, his grandchildren and his extended family; he treasured the time he spent with them and thoroughly embraced being papa, great grandpa and uncle. It was through this family that he envisioned a legacy of faith, education, hard work, integrity, responsibility, kindness and love.

Bill is survived by his wife, Linda, of Isle of Palms, South Carolina; his sister, Britta Thompson of Warren, Ohio, and Corpus Christi, Texas; three children, Benjamin “Jamie” Letson of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, his daughter, Katherine Letson of Denver, Colorado, and son, William C. (Sue) Letson of Columbus. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Lauren (Ryan) Deliefde, Charlotte (Colin) Grey, Alexander Bradford, Nicholas Bradford, Benjamin Letson and Audrey Letson; and the newest members of the family, two great-grandchildren, Winifred “Winnie” and Walker Deliefde. He also leaves nephews, Attorney Dan (Sharon) Letson, Attorney Thomas “BJ” (Debra) Letson; niece, Lynne Letson and niece and goddaughter, Deanna Zigler, and their families; former daughter-in-law, Diane Letson; and former wife, Brenda Powell. Uncle Bill will also be missed by cousins, Bill (Kelly) Stiles, Bob (Robin) Stiles and Andy (Gaby) Stiles; and many other Letson cousins of New Jersey and North Carolina.

Bill was preceded in death by his dearly beloved parents, Ellen and Ben Letson; his

closest friend and brother, Attorney Thomas “C.B.” Letson; and his first wife, Barbara Briggs Letson, who was the mother of his three children.

Bill’s family extends a heartfelt thank you to the incredible doctors and nurses of the ICU unit at Roper St. Francis Hospital, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Their outpouring of love, prayers and daily support will never be forgotten.

Calling hours and a celebration of life will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at the Trumbull Country Club, 600 Golf Drive NE, Warren.

A private memorial service will take place Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.

Additionally, a memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at the Owner’s Beach House, Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms, South Carolina.

Memorial donations may be made to Northeast Ohio Adoption Services (NOAS), 5000 E. Market St., Warren, OH 44484.

Condolences may be sent to condolences.WilliamLetson@gmail.com.

(special notice)