Obituary of William Augustus Tryon II

WILLIAM AUGUSTUS TRYON, II After following a resolute path through life, Bill climbed his final mountain on Earth on March 4, 2016 and then died on March 12. Born January 24, 1931 to Marion Row and Howard Albert Tryon in Elmira, NY, Bill graduated from EFA and was a member of the Princeton University Class of 1953. He played baseball, football and golf while at Princeton, was president of Tiger Inn and participated in the ROTC program there. Upon graduation, he entered the US Marine Corps as an officer and married his best friend and the love of his life, Mary Lou Hamm. She predeceased him on March 4, 2016. Bill spent over sixty years serving his clients and their families in the life insurance business, most notably as a Northwestern Mutual Life agent. In addition, he was active in numerous professional and community endeavors, including service as current chairman of the board and former president of Trayer Products, Inc., former chairman of the board of Perry and Carroll, Inc., and as a director of the Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital, the Chemung Canal Trust Company, the NYSGA, the Elmira Rotary Club and the Community Foundation. As a result of Bill's steadfast commitment to education and area youth, he was particularly dedicated to the establishment of the Ernie Davis Scholarship. He was an integral member of the Elmira All-Sports Committee and a volunteer coach of Small-Fry basketball and Notre Dame High School golf. In December of 2013, Bill was inducted as an inaugural member to the New York State Golf Association Hall of Fame at Oak Hill in Rochester, having won the NYSGA Men's State Amateur championship three times. He was a long-time member of the Elmira City Club, the Elmira Country Club and Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, where he won the Senior Club Championship in 1988. Bill leaves a loving family who is grateful to Pops for his profound love, support and example: daughter - Susan Tryon (James) Rogers of Elmira; sons - William Augustus Tryon, III of Los Angeles, CA, and Ronald James (Sally) Tryon of Columbia, SC; grandchildren - Gretchen Aynsley Rogers, Meredith Tryon (Alex Jenney) Rogers, William Augustus "Ty" (Hanna) Tryon, IV, John Theys "JT" Tryon, Trayer "Tray" Clancy Tryon, Georgia Lee Tryon, Sarah Catherine "Kitty" Tryon and James Hudson Tryon; great-grandchildren - William Augustus "Tyson" Tryon,V, James Alexander Jenney, and Augusta Baptiste Jenney; siblings - Pamela Tryon Mitchell, Howard Tryon, Cynthia Tryon Leedham, and John Tryon; brother-in-law - Brooks Braender; nieces - Julie Bennett and Holly Hellewell; family in his heart - John Zwick. Heartfelt thanks from the family go to Ms. Jessica Balmer for the exceptional and loving care she provided to both Bill and Mary Lou. Her keen attention to details and organizational skills gave Bill continuous comfort. The epitome of "Semper Fi," Bill was an honorable man who lived his life with purpose and conviction to his family, the community and his business relationships. It is Bill's request that a private family memorial service take place at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ernie Davis Scholarship Fund c/o the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc. at 301 South Main Street, Horseheads, NY 14845 (www.communityfund.org); or to the Arnot Ogden Medical Center Foundation at 600 Roe Avenue, Elmira, NY 14905. Arrangements entrusted to the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS, NY.