William Archibald Brand, III

William Archibald Brand, III, of Stuart, Florida and formerly of Mantoloking, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2026 in the presence of family and friends at the age of 99.

Bill was a successful, respected businessman, an avid mariner and aviator, an extraordinary woodworker, and a generous and fun-loving man. Bill is predeceased by his first wife, Patricia Nash Brand, his second wife, Jayne Thompson Brand, his sister Jane Brand Swift, and his grandson Matthew Taylor Brand. He is survived by his sister, Beverly Brand Strong, son, William A. Brand, IV, daughters Helen Elizabeth Brand, Sarah Brand Kelly, five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, stepsons Richard Bruce Williams (Peggy), Robert Bruce Williams (Susan), and stepdaughter Wendy Ann Williams.

In his later years, he was blessed to share a wonderful relationship with Linda Clayton Elkinton of Stuart, Florida and Rye Beach, New Hampshire and a fellow member of The Yacht and Country Club in Stuart.

Bill was born in Plainfield, NJ and upon graduating from Plainfield High School, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, as WWII was nearing its end. With the end of the war, he never got to fly in the Army Air Corps and instead was stationed in Landsberg, Germany, managing the Officers’ Club there. Bill had many stories of his time there and quickly realized his talent and love for business and entrepreneurship. When he returned to the U.S., he enrolled in the University of Miami (Florida) and studied Mechanical Engineering. At that time, he earned his private pilot’s license and would often fly back and forth from Florida and New Jersey for college breaks.

Bill returned to Plainfield, NJ, where his family resided, and met and married Patricia Nash Brand. He began working in the field of material handling and formed a business, ahead of its time, Barclay-Brand Corp., in South Plainfield, NJ, which sold forklift trucks and warehousing systems. Bill was CEO of the company for many years, until he sold it in 1996. It is still operating as a very successful enterprise today.

While Bill had an uncanny sense for business and was very successful at it, his passion for boats and being on the water defined so much of his life. He spent his early summers at his family home in Mantoloking, NJ, and returned to live there in later years. Over his lifetime, he built several boats and restored many wooden boats, his real love. He loved sharing his knowledge of wooden boats and their restoration with anyone who wanted to learn, and he spent many happy hours in his well-outfitted garage and workshop with a view of Barnegat Bay. Of all the boats he owned, the 45-foot wooden Matthews, the Happy Daze III, which he owned for 49 years, was his favorite, and he spent many hours cruising on her from NJ to Florida and back, to the Bahamas, and around Florida. He was known for his epic luncheon parties on the Happy Daze, fueled by his famous Whiskey Sours.

Bill continued to fly for as long as allowed, and he spent much time flying along the coasts of NJ and Florida. He also owned two Ford Model Ts, one from 1920 and one from 1922, which he lovingly restored to mint condition. The Model Ts were the stars of many parades and wedding receptions.

Bill will be remembered in many ways. He was optimistic and resilient in the face of challenges and hard times. He was loyal and faithful and could always be counted on to support his family and friends. He was kind and generous and always willing to help. Bill was always up for an adventure, especially if it involved boats, airplanes, or good food. He loved entertaining and was happiest when family or friends visited. His famous barbecue chicken on the grill was a specialty. Bill was an active member of the Bay Head Yacht Club, Crossroads Yacht Club, Yacht and Country Club, and his Stuart Lunch Club, and leaves behind many friends. Bill had been looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday on January 18, 2027.

A Celebration of Life will be held in New Jersey at the Bay Head Yacht Club on Sunday, on December 6, 2026 from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. A second Celebration of Life will be held in Stuart, Florida at Bill’s home on Sunday, January 17, 2027, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm.

Contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to The New Jersey Museum of Boating, 1800 Bay Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 https://www.njmb.org/ or the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, 4100 SW Leighton Farm Ave., Palm City, FL 34990 https://hstc1.org/Donate