PEOPLE

In Memoriam – William D. Poggetto

When you visit McNely's new offices you may notice poppies and lupines in some of the planters. These were favorites of William Poggetto and are planted in his memory. Bill Poggetto was a fixture for McNely Construction Company. A long-time friend of founder Warren McNely, Bill was the first client when Warren went into business in 1959. In the forty-six years that followed, Bill remained a valued client, friend, and advisor. McNely Construction Company continued to perform construction services as Bill transitioned from his canning business to commercial real estate development and management. When Bill sold his primary business, remaining active in personal business and philanthropic pursuits, he shared McNely's offices and provided valuable advice and insight gained from his years of experience. Born in Loomis, CA, Bill was raised in Oakland and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1938. He served with the 6th Army Headquarters in the Philippines and the Aleutian Islands. Bill joined his family businesses, soon becoming president, and maintained top management positions as he guided the business through mergers and changes. He served as a trustee for the Teamster's Pension Fund, and multiple industry organizations. Upon retirement from the agriculture business, Bill developed the family cannery into commercial real estate, which he actively managed for 20 years. Bill supported his local community by serving on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations. He loved reading about history, railroads and legal mysteries. An avid A's fan, he attended both spring training and home games. Bill maintained homes in Oakland and Arizona, and was an active collector of American Indian art and crafts. Bill passed away in 2005 at age 87. He left his wife of 56 years, Mary Ann; five daughters, their spouses, and eight grandchildren.