William Tadd Hendrickson

William Tadd Hendrickson, fondly known as Bill and Gramps, passed away on January 15, 2025, at the age of 95. Born in Rittman, Ohio, to Kathryn and Ted Hendrickson, the latter a Presbyterian minister. Bill graduated from The College of Wooster where his mother worked as a dorm mother. Upon graduation, Bill served in the United States Army. During the Korean War, he was stationed in Augsburg, Germany, where he worked in intelligence.

After his military service, Bill married his college sweetheart, Jane Leber, raising their children in Ridgewood, NJ. They remained married until her death in 1986. In 1987, Bill remarried Sally Feather, a fellow Wooster alumnus. 

In 1953, Bill began a long career managing and advising businesses on their employee benefits needs. He worked for Connecticut General, US Life Insurance, and Marsh McLennan. In 1980, he founded Hendrickson and Company, which he later sold to his son Doug who parlayed it into MidCap Advisors. He was a longtime member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and earned a nationwide Legislative Award from them. In his retirement, Bill and Sally moved to Durham, NC, where he received a Public Service Award as chair of the Orange County, NC Human Relations Commission.

For the past 20 years, Bill hosted "Time Out," a weekly one-hour radio show on WCOM, a community station in Carrboro, NC. He interviewed former ambassadors, public officials, professors, and people from various industries. He enjoyed researching each week’s topic and was always able to ask interesting and relevant questions. His heart was for the younger generation, and he loved interviewing his grandchildren and other young people from his church.

Bill was a “people person.” He loved getting to know others and encouraging them in their life’s work. He was loved by all who knew him.

He is survived by Sally and his blended family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Bill’s surviving family with Jane are daughter Debbie Gulino and her son William Gulino; Doug Hendrickson and wife Pamela Brecker, their daughter Janie, and son Will, his wife Shannon, and their young son Archie; Felix Hendrickson and wife Lisa Hendrickson. Surviving family with Sally are Laura Feather and husband Steve Bruno; Laura’s son Shade Feather, and his son Solan; and Laura’s daughter Lindsey Remy, husband Jason Remy, and children Amelia and Matias; Keith Feather and his son Ian Feather.

Bill was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Durham. His memorial service will be held there at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2025, which would have been his 96th birthday. A reception will follow. He will be buried in Lawrenceville, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Durham and The Hendrickson Family Scholarship Fund at the College of Wooster, Wooster, OH.