William S. Vaun

William S. Vaun, 85, died peacefully on Monday, December 1, 2014. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sally, their daughter, Elizabeth (Sissi) and five siblings.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Vaun received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1957 to 1959 he served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, with assignments at the Pentagon and at Andrews and Bolling Air Force Bases in Washington.

After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Vaun started out in private practice, but he soon realized that he was more interested in teaching medicine. He taught at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cleveland, and at Western Reserve University, the University of Pennsylvania and the New Jersey School of Medicine. In 1965 he became director of medical education at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey. There he oversaw a residency program that grew from 30 residents to more than 100 physicians in training. He was also responsible for developing a gerontology program at Monmouth, and served as its first medical director.

In 1996 he and his family moved to Norfolk, where Vaun was an active participant in town life for almost 20 years. He served on the P & Z Commission, the Affordable Housing Commission, the Norfolk Land Trust, the Curling Club and the Litchfield County University Club, for which he served as president, and was on the boards of Norfolk Senior Housing and the Country Club. The Lions Club was very important to him, and he was voted Lion of the Year in 2002.

A memorial service for Bill Vaun will be held on May 2 at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Transfiguration in Norfolk. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Norfolk Lions Club.