Remembering Bill Dixon

William P. (Bill) Dixon was born and raised in Columbus Ohio, near The Ohio State University, to Paul and Virginia Fogle Dixon. Displaying a talent for art, he earned his first commission at the age of 8. The proprietor of Gordon’s Candy (well-known shop near OSU) paid Bill to paint the shop’s name/hours on its entrance door. When Bill was in middle school, a research team from OSU tested the entire student body. He remembered being in the 8th grade when the researchers’ findings were disclosed by his home room teacher who announced: “the smartest kid in the whole school is sitting in this room.” Bill recalled looking around, wondering who could possibly be that smart. The teacher pointed at him and said “The smartest kid in this school is Dixon.” Sometime after that, his parents told him he had to go to college but they wouldn’t have money to pay for it so he would need to work. His art teacher at North High School, Miss Abernathy thought Bill was the most talented student she ever taught and helped secure a full scholarship for him to the Columbus College of Art and Design. Although passionate about art, Bill decided he didn’t want to make a career of it and declined the scholarship. He graduated in the Class of 1962 from North High School, knowing it would be up to him to work his way through OSU.

At 14 he worked part-time in an eclectic used bookstore near campus, owned by 2 professors and a retired engineer who had worked on the Manhattan Project. Bill was allowed to borrow any book in the shop as long as he discussed what he read with the 3 owners. That experience honed his critical thinking skills and ability to make and defend his assessments. Bill completed his B.A. at OSU working part time gigs as a bartender, bouncer, cook, artist, folksinger, political speech writer, textbook editor, zookeeper, iron worker and pet shop manager. After Bill implemented a strategy that increased sales at the pet shop, a rep tried to recruit him for an advertising position in NY, which he turned down. He taught school for two years, as he completed his Master’s Degree.

After college, he went into banking, where he became the CEO of a financial institution without ever having taken a single business class. In his spare time, he published magazine articles about home energy efficiency, humor, and finance. At age 39 he left banking, opened a successful real estate business, and retired at 52. He was a member of MENSA.

Bill was an avid chess player as a young man, a high school champion, and taught his son Ian, his love of the game. Ian then taught his sons, and so he brought the joy of chess to 2 further generations of Dixon boys. Bill loved entertaining and making good food: a fearless and creative chef, his meals were both a feast for the eyes – beautifully presented - and delicious! He passed this trait to Ian who is an excellent chef and his grandsons also enjoy cooking, pickling vegetables and brewing beer.

He was an outdoorsman, nature enthusiast, and survivalist. In the early days, when Susan worked in White River Junction VT, they hiked mountains in VT and NH. He found and turned sturdy branches into handsome walking sticks. An avid bird watcher, Bill had a masterful (and enviable) ability to identify many species and their songs. He started passing these passions to Ian in the mid to late 1970’s, and his son passed them down to his boys, with his youngest grandchild studying Environmental Engineering at BGSU, continuing a legacy of conservation and love of nature. Both grandchildren went into Boy Scouts of America, and earned their Eagle Scout rank. Although Bill had an ongoing mission to outsmart squirrels, skunks and raccoons, he had a big heart for many other species. Every summer in Boothbay Harbor, he would name/train chipmunks (Sylvia was the first of many), teaching them to eat out of his hand. He was the kind of guy who would stop his car if he spotted a turtle on the road; ascertain the direction he thought the turtle was going and gently carry it to safety. Bill loved to fly fish, tied intricate flies and his casts were poetry in motion! He enjoyed a longtime membership at of the Zanesfield Rod and Gun Club in Ohio.

Bill was an eloquent writer and that trait also has been passed down through his son to his grandsons who share his flair and passion for writing. Bill published his first book, Guitar Collecting, in 2003, which sold through three printings. He then began writing a popular column with the byline From the Edge for Ragazine, an online magazine. He published his last book Disorderly Conduct: Tales of the 1960’s in 2009. Bill enjoyed oil painting and was a longtime member of the Boothbay Region Art Foundation. He loved drawing caricatures of himself and others - often surprising a fellow diner or server at restaurants with a caricature of that person. He had a contagious laugh and great sense of humor.

Music was a passion for Bill, he collected and played guitars (some of his best friends were luthiers in several states), wrote his own music, and sang well. Ian remembers many evenings when his father and friends would sit in the living room playing and singing folk songs until wee hours of the morning. Ian would often sit at the top of the stairs and listen. Bill published a CD of original songs titled, “Is It Art?” For several years, he was the US rep for a German guitar maker at trade shows. He loved trade shows and travelled to many states, selling firearms, guitars or art. His art travels took him many places, including Poland and Germany to acquire religious icons. His natural friendliness, honest and humorous approach brought repeat customers at trade shows. He invented and successfully sold accessory items he made; giving them memorable names, such as his popular “Willie Wipes” (a cloth product to clean/polish firearms).

Bill loved visiting Maine and after many years of doing so, bought a ‘fixer-upper’ on Mill Cove in Boothbay Harbor. This became a beloved seasonal residence where he and Susan enjoyed the beauty of the area, developed lifetime friendships and ate as many lobsters as possible. After reading Bill Bryson’s inspiring book A Walk in the Woods, he hiked to the top of Mt. Katahdin, the northern point of the Appalachian Trail. Because of his affinity for ‘all things Maine’ Bill ultimately decided to become a resident and was proud to be a ‘Main-ah’. Although he knew he would always be "from away"! He became a patient at the Boothbay Region Health Center where he and Susan were participants in its innovative Brain Health Program.

For many years, he was a snow-bird in the St. Pete Beach, Pinellas park and Clearwater areas where he enjoyed many friendships while avoiding the cold weather he hated.

Bill lived life with gusto. He borrowed the title of one his favorite Hemingway books (A Moveable Feast) to describe his philosophy that the world offers so much to savor; which led to Bill’s longtime license plate PICNIC.

Bill is missed by many, especially by his beloved partner of over 40 years, Susan Stewart; his son, Ian Dixon and his partner Renee’ Sober’s and grandsons Evan and Griffin Dixon. He was preceded in death by his parents and his ex-wife and good friend Koneta Dixon.

Many thanks to Cap City Hospice and their team of angels for exceptional care during the last two weeks of Bill’s life. And a special thank you for the expertise and care of Dr. Allen Teel and staff of the Boothbay Region Health Center and members of the Brain Health Program for their friendship and support.

Cremation was provided by Newcomer’s of Powell, Ohio.

See pictures of Bill at www.newcomercolumbus.com

Bill would be pleased if you raised a glass in his memory on his birthday April 5th.

If so desired, remembrance contributions may be made to:

Brain Health Program c/o Boothbay Region Health Center 185 Townsend Ave Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0253

To order memorial trees in memory of Bill Dixon, please visit our tree store.