Woodstock, Vermont

Coleman Williams (Bill) Hoyt was born to Colgate Hoyt and Muriel Williams (Williamson) Hoyt in New York City on November 11, 1925. He died at age 93 on October 9, 2019 after a brave struggle with cancer and a stroke. He was predeceased by his three brothers, and a son Andrew Erskine Hoyt. He leaves his devoted and beloved wife Cecilia Lucia Hoyt, two sons from a previous marriage, Coleman W. Hoyt Jr. and wife Amy of Concord, MA and Stephen Tecumseh Hoyt and wife Chrisanne of Orford, NH, daughter-in-law Chrystine Hoyt of Benton Falls, ME,  and five grandchildren.

Bill attended Groton School, and then enlisted in the Navy V-12 Program in 1943. He graduated from Tufts with a Naval Science degree and served as an officer on the USS Duluth in the Pacific. After discharge, he attended Yale and graduated with an Industrial Administration degree. He was immediately hired by the Reader's Digest where he was employed for 40 years. At the Digest he held several positions including being in charge of printing the world's largest circulation magazine and managing their Condensed Books and RCA Victor Record Club. In addition to managing the postage costs for the Reader's Digest, Bill became Chairman of the Postmaster General's Mailers Technical Advisory Committee In Washington, DC. He established a system of "worksharing" postal rates and wrote a book on the subject. He was respected worldwide for his postal expertise.

He retired from the Reader's Digest in 1988 and moved fulltime to his family farm in Vermont. There he started Continuity Shippers Association, an international postal consulting service. He was the recipient of many awards for his outstanding contribution to the field of mail advertising and selling. He was a former Director of the Direct Marketing Association, The Association for Postal Commerce, Vermont Land Trust, National Trustee of Outward Bound USA, and consultant to the US Information Agency in Beruit, Lebanon. He was a member of the Yale Club and Squadron A in New York, OCavalry and Guards Club in London and The Lakota Club in Vermont.

Bill loved his life in Vermont and was dedicated to his community. He was elected Town Agent, Grand Juror and was Cemetery Commissioner for decades. A former Commander of the Bridgewater American Legion he presided over the funerals of many veterans of Woodstock and Bridgewater. He was happiest spending time at Saddlebow Farm with his family and friends. There he enjoyed raising horses, sheep, and Brittany Spaniels. He treasured his time in the great outdoors planting vegetables and Christmas Trees, clearing trails, hiking, skiing, fishing, and haying. He will be missed for his eloquent command of the English language, his fortitude, his quick wit and his beautiful handwriting.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his memory to The Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society, PO Box 702, Brownsville, VT 05037

Funeral to be held Friday October 25 ^th at 2:00pm at the St. James Episcopal Church in Woodstock, Vermont. Burial will be held privately in the Mendell Cemetery in Bridgewater, Vermont.

The Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock is assisting the family. An on line guest book can be found at cabotfh.com