brewthack

William Louis Thackeray of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., passed away in his sleep on December 25, 2017, aged 89. He was a creative artist who painted and worked in mixed media, and was a professional medical illustrator.

Bill was born in Manhattan on May 9, 1928, and grew up in New York City, with summers spent in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He was drafted into the army during the Korean War in the early 1950s, hoping to fly helicopters, but was assigned instead to be an Army photographer in post-war Germany. His time there inspired a life-long interest in travel and cultural exploration.

Bill returned to New York and studied with the abstract impressionist artist Adolph Gottlieb at the Pratt Institute through the G.I. bill. He met Selma Lenore Stahl on a public bus, and following a whirlwind romance, they were married in December, 1956. After living in New York City and Pelham, the Thackerays settled in Dobbs Ferry in 1962 and lived in the same house since then. Their son, William Brewster Thackeray, was born in 1969. Bill’s medical illustration career blossomed as he combined his self-taught knowledge of human anatomy with meticulous artistic skill. His work was featured in numerous medical textbooks and in publications detailing arthroscopic and other surgeries. He specialized in orthopedics and was affiliated with the Hospital for Special Surgery, and later did freelance work for clients that included Johnson & Johnson.

Throughout his career, Bill’s in-home studio was the location for both his work and his creative art. He created large mixed-media work, photic paintings, and also enjoyed sketching and creating cartoons.

Bill was active in the community as a board member for the Westchester Chamber Music Society, and along with his family was a long-time member of the Colonial Springs Pool. His interests included international travel; in addition to many trips to Europe, he visited all five continents. An avid Chinese food chef, he especially enjoyed two trips to China. He also enjoyed hiking, skiing, skating, running. He was passionate about current affairs, and shared his wife’s interest in the Rivertowns League of Women Voters.

Bill is survived by Selma, his wife of 61 years; son Brewster and his wife Kate Thackeray of Alexandria, Va.; sisters Gerri Ralston of Beaumont, California and Scotty Reilly of Viera, Florida; and six nieces and nephews. A memorial gathering and celebration of his life and art will be held Sunday, January 21, 2018 at the Dobbs Ferry Woman’s Club; please contact Brewster at BrewThack@gmail.com, or 703/508-4418, for further information on the memorial.

Bill was a strong endorser of charitable giving, so in lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations in his memory, which can be made to Bill’s favorite charity, Smile Train (www.smiletrain.org), or a worthy charity of their choice.