William Scott Gray

William Scott Gray

Bayside, Wis.

William Scott Gray, a longtime resident of the Milwaukee area, passed away peacefully, Nov. 13, 2022, at the age of 78.

Present at his passing were his wife of 54 years, Janice (nee Frank), son William Ryan and his wife, Erin, daughter Megan and her husband Greg Ehlers, brothers Steve (Betsy) and Jim (Val) Gray of San Francisco, Calif., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa respectively, and sister Mary Ellen (Jim) Hart of Sandusky, Ohio. Janice’s brother Peder Frank and his wife Ann of Wauwatosa, and sister Sandy and her husband Alexander Bainbridge of Boulder, Colo., were present as well.

Grandchildren Ethan and Collin Ehlers and Owen and Wyatt Gray were much loved by Scott and were the source of great pride to their grandfather. Attending their sporting and school events meant a great deal to him. Scott also was proud of his amazing nieces and nephews and their families. Scott was always family-first!

The son of William Oxley and Mary Florence Gray (nee Comstock), Scott was born in Rochester, N.Y., on Aug, 18, 1944. At the conclusion of World War II, the family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Scott completed high school and began his college career at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Prior to graduation, he chose to serve with the United States Air Force. His Air Force tour in Air Police had him stationed at Lackland AFB, Texas, and Bossier/Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Post Air Force, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Milton College, Milton, Wis., where he met Jan. From Milton, he started his 17-year career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, leading him to become the Executive Director of the UWM Alumni Association. Post UWM, Scott spent 21 years at Robert W. Baird as a Financial Advisor and Senior Investment Consultant before retiring in 2010.

Scott enjoyed serving the community by volunteering on an advisory board at the Medical College of Wisconsin and was a long-time member of the Lakefront Festival of Arts, Buildings and Grounds Committee. He was Chairman of the Festival in 1981. In 2017, he was presented the Friends of Art Legacy Award in recognition for a lifetime of outstanding commitment and support to Friends of Art and the Milwaukee Art Museum.

The family is grateful for the love and support from their family, friends, and colleagues. They would like to thank Doctors John Charlson and Kathryn Bylow at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin for their kind and thoughtful care of Scott over the last 18 years. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial donations to Froedtert Hospital Foundation for Cancer Research in memory of William Scott Gray. my.froedterthospitalfoundation.org/makeagift