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William E Few Jr.

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William E Few Jr.

Birth
Death
19 Aug 2003 (aged 67)
Gibsonia, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA GPS-Latitude: 40.2365685, Longitude: -79.2428894
Memorial ID
View Source
Keen financier was an enthusiastic philanthropist
Thursday, August 21, 2003 12:00 a.m.
https://archive.triblive.com/news/keen-financier-was-an-enthusiastic-philanthropist/

Anna Belle Irwin was known for her keen sense of sizing up the people she met, including a young Korean War veteran named Bill Few.

In 1958, Ms. Irwin's roommate at Chatham College in Shadyside introduced her to Bill Few, whom she found to be engaging, charming and easy to be with. So much so, that she urged him to enroll at the University of Pittsburgh and married him two years later.

William E. Few Jr., of Pine, chairman emeritus of Bill Few Associates Inc., Ross, died of cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003, at his home. He was 67.

Mrs. Few's faith in her husband's ability to succeed proved prophetic. Prior to his retirement in 2001, Mr. Few was considered one of the most formidable financial planners in Western Pennsylvania. He had taken his company — which he started in 1987 with seven employees on a single floor in the Frick Building, Downtown — and turned it into a financial planning organization that occupied an entire building on Perry Highway and employed a group of 50 financial advisers and a support staff.

His son, Tom Few, said that his mother, who had a degree in biology, worked in a lab at Scaife Hall at the University of Pittsburgh while his father was studying for his undergraduate degree at Pitt.

"Dad took classes during the day and worked from 4 to 12 for the former American Air Survey Co., where he used his Air Force experience in aerial reconnaissance to create aerial maps for their customers,” he said.

Hard work was a necessity for Mr. Few, who grew up in Canonsburg, Washington County, where his father was employed as a carpenter in a coal mine.

"During the years Dad was attending Canonsburg High School, he caddied, set pins and found any kind of work to help his family,” his son said. "When Dad graduated from high school in 1954, he had no money for college and enlisted in the Air Force.”

In 1964, Mr. Few received his undergraduate degree in chemistry and was employed at the former Union Carbide Co. "Dad worked at Union Carbide for about a year, while he was earning his MBA from Pitt's School of Business,” his son said. "Working for a chemical company didn't appeal to him. Dad received his MBA in 1967 and began his financial career.”

In the ensuing years, Mr. Few, who began his investment career with C.S. McKee & Co., established his own firm, Bill Few Associates Inc., in 1987. The firm moved to its current Perry Highway location in 1999.

On several occasions, Mr. Few was a guest on CNBC's "Your Portfolio” program. Locally, he was recognized for his "Money Talk” radio shows, which began in 1982 and continued until 1998.

Another son, Tim Few, recalled his father's entrepreneurial spirit and said he urged his sons to take risks to reach their dreams.

Mr. Few's participation in philanthropic and charitable organizations was legendary. Through The Bill Few Memorial Fund, administered by The Pittsburgh Foundation, he provided financial aid to Forbes Hospice, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and Gateway Rehabilitation Center, to name a few. For years, his employees participated in telethons for Easter Seals.

When he could get away from his numerous commitments, Mr. Few enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson. "Dad learned to ride a motorcycle when he was stationed in Japan with the Air Force,” Tom Few said. "My brother, Tim, and myself often rode with Dad, as did Mom.”

One of Mr. Few's lesser-publicized accomplishments, Tom Few said, was riding up to the front of the Duquesne Club on Sixth Avenue, parking his Harley and dropping in for lunch.

Mr. Few is survived by his wife, Anna Belle Irwin Few, sons, W. Timothy Few and his wife, Molly, of Bethel Park, and Thomas A. Few and his wife, Jennifer, of Ross; brothers, Lawrence Few, of Canonsburg, and Thomas Few, of Butler; and a sister, Kathleen Morton, of Canonsburg. He was predeceased by a sister, Nancy Few.

Interment will be private. Arrangements are by Simons Funeral Home, Perry Highway, Ross.

Obituary:
William E. Few Jr., 67, of Gibsonia died peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003, after a valiant battle with cancer. Bill was born in Canonsburg to the late William and Jean Few and raised there. After graduating from Canonsburg High School, he entered the Air Force, where he was in aerial reconnaissance and which he left as a sergeant in a reconnaissance-technical squadron. He also was a Korean War veteran. Bill earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964, a master of business administration from its school of business in 1965 and his certified financial planner designation in 1983. Bill began his investment career in 1967 with C.S. McKee & Company and established his own firm, Bill Few Associates, Inc., in the Frick Building, Downtown, on Jan. 22, 1987. He moved the firm to its present location in Ross on April 15, 1999, retired in June 2001 and became chairman emeritus. He was a director of the Easter Seal Society and Gateway Rehabilitation Center, a financial talk show host on radio station WTKN from 1982 to 1988 and on WPTT-AM from 1998 to 2001 and the host of "Money Talk" on WTAE-AM from 1988 to 1998. Bill loved being on the air for 18 years as "Pittsburgh's Number One Money Man" and shared his best-loved poems and stories with his listeners. He also was a guest on CNBC's "Your Portfolio" several times in 1994 and 1996. His guest speaking engagements included ones for the University of Pittsburgh, the South Hills Health System Foundation, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania, the Dick Corp. and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Bill loved to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, golf, play tennis and garden. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Few. He is survived by his wife, Anna Belle Few; sons, W. Timothy Few and his wife, Molly, and Thomas A. Few and his wife, Jennifer; brothers, Lawrence Few and his wife, Tanya, and Thomas Few and his wife Eleanor; sister, Kathleen Morton and her husband, Kenneth; nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bill Few Memorial Fund, c/o the Pittsburgh Foundation, One PPG Place, 30th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5401; Forbes Hospice, c/o The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Foundation, 4818 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224; the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 3 Forest St., New Canaan, CT 06840, or Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Moffett Run Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/triblive-pittsburgh-tribune-review/obituary.aspx?n=william-e-few&pid=182320236&fhid=8071
Keen financier was an enthusiastic philanthropist
Thursday, August 21, 2003 12:00 a.m.
https://archive.triblive.com/news/keen-financier-was-an-enthusiastic-philanthropist/

Anna Belle Irwin was known for her keen sense of sizing up the people she met, including a young Korean War veteran named Bill Few.

In 1958, Ms. Irwin's roommate at Chatham College in Shadyside introduced her to Bill Few, whom she found to be engaging, charming and easy to be with. So much so, that she urged him to enroll at the University of Pittsburgh and married him two years later.

William E. Few Jr., of Pine, chairman emeritus of Bill Few Associates Inc., Ross, died of cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003, at his home. He was 67.

Mrs. Few's faith in her husband's ability to succeed proved prophetic. Prior to his retirement in 2001, Mr. Few was considered one of the most formidable financial planners in Western Pennsylvania. He had taken his company — which he started in 1987 with seven employees on a single floor in the Frick Building, Downtown — and turned it into a financial planning organization that occupied an entire building on Perry Highway and employed a group of 50 financial advisers and a support staff.

His son, Tom Few, said that his mother, who had a degree in biology, worked in a lab at Scaife Hall at the University of Pittsburgh while his father was studying for his undergraduate degree at Pitt.

"Dad took classes during the day and worked from 4 to 12 for the former American Air Survey Co., where he used his Air Force experience in aerial reconnaissance to create aerial maps for their customers,” he said.

Hard work was a necessity for Mr. Few, who grew up in Canonsburg, Washington County, where his father was employed as a carpenter in a coal mine.

"During the years Dad was attending Canonsburg High School, he caddied, set pins and found any kind of work to help his family,” his son said. "When Dad graduated from high school in 1954, he had no money for college and enlisted in the Air Force.”

In 1964, Mr. Few received his undergraduate degree in chemistry and was employed at the former Union Carbide Co. "Dad worked at Union Carbide for about a year, while he was earning his MBA from Pitt's School of Business,” his son said. "Working for a chemical company didn't appeal to him. Dad received his MBA in 1967 and began his financial career.”

In the ensuing years, Mr. Few, who began his investment career with C.S. McKee & Co., established his own firm, Bill Few Associates Inc., in 1987. The firm moved to its current Perry Highway location in 1999.

On several occasions, Mr. Few was a guest on CNBC's "Your Portfolio” program. Locally, he was recognized for his "Money Talk” radio shows, which began in 1982 and continued until 1998.

Another son, Tim Few, recalled his father's entrepreneurial spirit and said he urged his sons to take risks to reach their dreams.

Mr. Few's participation in philanthropic and charitable organizations was legendary. Through The Bill Few Memorial Fund, administered by The Pittsburgh Foundation, he provided financial aid to Forbes Hospice, the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and Gateway Rehabilitation Center, to name a few. For years, his employees participated in telethons for Easter Seals.

When he could get away from his numerous commitments, Mr. Few enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson. "Dad learned to ride a motorcycle when he was stationed in Japan with the Air Force,” Tom Few said. "My brother, Tim, and myself often rode with Dad, as did Mom.”

One of Mr. Few's lesser-publicized accomplishments, Tom Few said, was riding up to the front of the Duquesne Club on Sixth Avenue, parking his Harley and dropping in for lunch.

Mr. Few is survived by his wife, Anna Belle Irwin Few, sons, W. Timothy Few and his wife, Molly, of Bethel Park, and Thomas A. Few and his wife, Jennifer, of Ross; brothers, Lawrence Few, of Canonsburg, and Thomas Few, of Butler; and a sister, Kathleen Morton, of Canonsburg. He was predeceased by a sister, Nancy Few.

Interment will be private. Arrangements are by Simons Funeral Home, Perry Highway, Ross.

Obituary:
William E. Few Jr., 67, of Gibsonia died peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003, after a valiant battle with cancer. Bill was born in Canonsburg to the late William and Jean Few and raised there. After graduating from Canonsburg High School, he entered the Air Force, where he was in aerial reconnaissance and which he left as a sergeant in a reconnaissance-technical squadron. He also was a Korean War veteran. Bill earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964, a master of business administration from its school of business in 1965 and his certified financial planner designation in 1983. Bill began his investment career in 1967 with C.S. McKee & Company and established his own firm, Bill Few Associates, Inc., in the Frick Building, Downtown, on Jan. 22, 1987. He moved the firm to its present location in Ross on April 15, 1999, retired in June 2001 and became chairman emeritus. He was a director of the Easter Seal Society and Gateway Rehabilitation Center, a financial talk show host on radio station WTKN from 1982 to 1988 and on WPTT-AM from 1998 to 2001 and the host of "Money Talk" on WTAE-AM from 1988 to 1998. Bill loved being on the air for 18 years as "Pittsburgh's Number One Money Man" and shared his best-loved poems and stories with his listeners. He also was a guest on CNBC's "Your Portfolio" several times in 1994 and 1996. His guest speaking engagements included ones for the University of Pittsburgh, the South Hills Health System Foundation, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania, the Dick Corp. and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Bill loved to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, golf, play tennis and garden. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Few. He is survived by his wife, Anna Belle Few; sons, W. Timothy Few and his wife, Molly, and Thomas A. Few and his wife, Jennifer; brothers, Lawrence Few and his wife, Tanya, and Thomas Few and his wife Eleanor; sister, Kathleen Morton and her husband, Kenneth; nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bill Few Memorial Fund, c/o the Pittsburgh Foundation, One PPG Place, 30th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-5401; Forbes Hospice, c/o The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Foundation, 4818 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224; the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 3 Forest St., New Canaan, CT 06840, or Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Moffett Run Road, Aliquippa, PA 15001.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/triblive-pittsburgh-tribune-review/obituary.aspx?n=william-e-few&pid=182320236&fhid=8071


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  • Created by: ECNordstrom
  • Added: Jun 8, 2016
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/164142422/william_e-few: accessed ), memorial page for William E Few Jr. (14 Dec 1935–19 Aug 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 164142422, citing Ligonier Valley Cemetery, Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by ECNordstrom (contributor 48391013).