Dr. William A. Wolf, 85; Retired Dentist Who Enjoyed Sports, Travel, Family and Friends

From Carlson Funeral Home.

Dr. William A. Wolf, 85, of Kensington, was born October 22, 1929, just as the stock market crashed and the Great Depression commenced, a pure coincidence.

He was the first child of William E. A. Wolf and Linnea Bengtson Wolf of New Britain, CT.

A graduate of New Britain High School, 1947, and Upsala College, 1951, he served in the Marine Corps for two years during the Korean War. He then enrolled at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, receiving his DDS degree in 1958. Bill began his dental practice in New Britain, CT that year, retiring officially on December 31, 1999.

Along the way, he enjoyed a full and fulfilling life. In 1955, he met Diane Lundell, and even before a formal date, he told her he would marry her the following year. She laughed, he pursued, and they were united in marriage in August of 1956.

He is survived by his wife and four children, William and wife Mary of Charleston, South Carolina; Erica and husband Dave McKenzie of Kensington, CT; Carolyn and husband Frank Sataline of Farmington, CT; and Ellen and partner Robin Boislard of Niantic, CT. He also leaves behind six devoted granddaughters - Jessica and Amanda McKenzie, Jennifer Sataline Brown and husband Michael Brown, Kathryn Sataline, and Mary Grace and Lily Wolf. He also leaves his brother Roger and wife Joanne, and Roger’s sons Eric, Jeffrey, and Greg. Bill’s brother Robert died in 1979 and is survived by his wife Carol and their children, Gretchen and Bob. He also leaves behind a cousin, David Bengtson, his wife Liz, and their children Sarah, Peter, and John David. Bill also leaves behind Marl Jackson, who was like a son to him.

Bill was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church in New Britain, where his grandfather was a founding member in the late 1800s. A former New Britain Rotarian, he also belonged to local state and national dental societies. Bill was very much an athlete, pitching his softball team to many championships, from church teams to college teams to Marine Corps championships at Camp Pendleton, California, the Baltimore graduate school champs, and for the New Britain Dental Society.

He and his family enjoyed skiing at many of New England’s great ski areas. Water skiing was recreation, but golf was a passion. As a long-time member of Shuttle Meadow Country Club, he and his special foursome tagged the “Rover Boys” played on Wednesdays and some weekends for over forty years (he won a few tournaments and conceded his hole-in-one was a lucky, happy fluke).

For the past twenty years, he enjoyed his home in Eastham, on Cape Cod, where family and friends were always welcome, and all came to love the Cape.

He visited and enjoyed travel to other parts of the world but his greatest pleasures were local with family and wonderful friends. Sunday afternoon Discussion Group was a highlight. Five o’clock was his favorite part of many days.

He left the world having lived to make it a better place than when he entered it.

The family is grateful for the loving care he received during his final months as Cromwell’s Apple Rehab. The staff made a difficult time feel like a home away from home.

A memorial service with military honors will be held Saturday 11 AM at First Lutheran Church, 77 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051. There are no calling hours.

For those who wish to make a memorial contribution, please consider First Lutheran Church in New Britain or Wounded Warriors, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

The Carlson Funeral Home, New Britain, is in charge of arrangements.