BUFFALO — William J. Williamson, Jr., a banker with long-standing dedication to community service, died Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at Buffalo General Hospital. He was 76.

A native of Niagara Falls, NY, Mr. Williamson was a 1954 graduate of Bishop Duffy High School where he was a Rotarian student.

Mr. Williamson attended the University of Pennsylvania where he was President of St.         Anthony Hall (Delta Psi) and a member of the Sphinx Society. He graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in 1958, and started his banking career shortly thereafter.

Over the course of his 23 years with Marine Midland Bank, he graduated from Stonier         Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University (1967), was past President of the Robert Morris Associates, and rose to the position of Vice President and Manager of Credit and Loan Administration. After retirement from Marine Midland, Mr. Williamson served as Senior Vice President at Manufacturers Hanover from 1980   until his second retirement in 1986.

Mr. Williamson had a passion for community service that he combined with his love for children and commitment to those less fortunate. He was a Trustee of Cradle Beach Camp Inc. where he served in various offices since 1975, including four terms as President, Chairman of the Board and Head of the Nominating Committee. His long-term commitment and contributions to Cradle Beach Camp were honored through recognition as a Legend of Cradle Beach Camp. Mr. Williamson dedicated himself to The Children's Guild         Foundation for 35 years. He was a longstanding member of the Board of Directors and served as Chairman.

Mr. Williamson was a treasurer and director of Church Mission of Help for 12 years. He was a member of the Community Foundation for the Greater Buffalo Investment Committee since 2000. He was also a volunteer fundraiser for the Catholic Charity Appeals and the United Way, a member of the Western New York Planned Giving Consortium and a Trustee of the Buffalo Philharmonic Foundation. Mr. Williamson was a Past Commodore (2000-2001) of the Buffalo Canoe and a former Dean (2005) and long-time member of the Saturn Club.

Mr. Williamson was predeceased by his former wife, Nanette Swift Williamson. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Evelyn Brennan Ewart Williamson; his children, John T. (June) Williamson II and Julia N. Williamson; his step-daughter, Lynn (David) Ewart-Paine; grandchildren, John T. Williamson III, Reed Keener, Margot Swift and step-grandchildren, Tristan James and Fiona Ann Paine.

The family will be present to receive friends Sunday 3:00-6:00 PM at the (Delaware Chapel) AMIGONE FUNERAL HOME INC.,1132 Delaware Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning at St. Louis R.C. Church (Main & Edward Sts.), Buffalo, at          10:00 AM. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Lewiston, NY. In lieu of flowers,      memorials may be made in Mr. Williamson's memory to the Children's Guild Foundation, Inc., 726 Exchange Street, Buffalo, NY 14210; or Cradle Beach Camp, 8038 Lakeshore Rd., Angola, NY 14006.

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