William Wadman’s family knew they should always check the Bowdoin College schedule before planning any event or gathering.
Mr. Wadman rarely passed up a chance to return to his alma mater.
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“My dad was very, very involved with Bowdoin for many, many years,” said Jeff Wadman, his son. If a family event conflicted with homecoming or a reunion or a football game, he said, “we changed plans.”
Mr. Wadman’s death on Monday at the age of 83 was “a sad day for Bowdoin,” his son said.
Bowdoin President Barry Mills announced the loss of “our friend and longtime member of the Governing Boards” in an email to alumni.
“Bill was a dedicated alumnus, enthusiastically serving his class and the college for decades. Bill was elected overseer in 1988, transitioning to trustee in 1996, and actively served in that capacity until 2000. Over the years he was a member of the facilities and development committees, as well as on the Subcommittee on Social Responsibility and the Student Affairs Committee,” Mills wrote.
Mr. Wadman was given the 1984 Alumni Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Alumni Council. “He counted that honor, his election to the Governing Boards, and being alumni marshal at the 1999 commencement as second only to his wedding and the births of his children,” Mills wrote.
Mr. Wadman’s bond to Bowdoin lasted about as long as his 62-year marriage. He met Norma Montgomery during his Bowdoin years and married her after graduating in 1949.
His three children chose other colleges to attend, but they grew up with a strong attachment to Bowdoin, Jeff Wadman said.
In addition to attending events, they helped their father organize reunions and fundraising campaigns. “We had a lot of interesting evenings stuffing envelopes for dad,” his son said.
Mr. Wadman was proud to write letters of recommendation for friends or relatives who wanted to attend Bowdoin, and he looked forward to visits to his old fraternity house, Beta Theta Pi, until the fraternity was disbanded.
“On football weekends, he’d always go visit the house,” his son said.
Mr. Wadman graduated from Bowdoin with an English degree and loved language.
His first job out of school was writing news for WGAN radio.
Then he made a name for himself hosting “Weather with Wadman” during the news on Channel 13.
“He’d do things like stick his head out the window or wear a slicker during the weather forecast so everyone would know it’s raining,” his son said. “We used to get phone calls at home from people who would be mad that the weather forecast wasn’t right.”
He left the media business for real estate in the late 1960s.
Mr. Wadman also was well-known in his hometown of Cape Elizabeth, where he served on the Town Council from 1969 to 1978. He also served on the board of the Thomas Memorial Library and the Cape Elizabeth land Trust.
Staff Writer John Richardson can be contacted at 791-6324 or at:
jrichardson@pressherald.com
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