William C. Rands III
Grosse Pointe – William Charles Rands III of Grosse Pointe died at home surrounded by his family Sunday, June 20, 2021, at the age of 77. Bill was born Sept. 28, 1943, in East St. Louis, Mo., and was adopted in August 1944, by William Charles and Elizabeth Clark Rands of Renaud Road, Grosse Pointe Shores. He attended the Grosse Pointe University School, the Hill School in Pottstown, Penn., and graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1965, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He served two years in the U.S. Navy, reaching the rank of lieutenant junior grade and in 2008 was proudly granted the designation of surface warfare officer.
In 1967, Bill joined National Bank of Detroit. He became a chartered financial analyst in 1973, investment department head in 1979, and subsequently a first vice president. In 1983, he left NBD to start a growth investment fund, Rands Investment Company (later called Sagres Partners). He retired from Sagres Partners in 2005, but continued a fascination with the stock market. Bill had the privilege of being on the governing board of the Financial Analysts Federation. He also worked on two successful venture capital projects — Republic Bancorp in Michigan and HomeBancorp in Florida.
Bill served on numerous boards within the Detroit area, including Henry Ford Health System, Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society, Detroit Historical Society, Yankee Air Museum, Grosse Pointe Historical Society and Grosse Pointe Library Foundation. Other organizations included the ACLU of Michigan, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, The Nature Conservancy of Michigan, Team Angels Foundation, The Grosse Pointe Academy, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Cradle Foundation. He also dedicated 25 years to Unlimited Hydroplane Racing on the Detroit River.
He was a member of The Detroit Club, Country Club of Detroit, Detroit Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Club, Bayview Yacht Club, Prismatic Club, Yondotega Club and the Harbor Beach Resort Association. He also was a member of the Ocean Club of Florida. A licensed commercial pilot, Bill owned and lovingly flew a Beech A36 Bonanza and was a member of the Warren Flying Club.
But Bill’s greatest accomplishment was his family. He is survived by Elizabeth “Happy” Rands (nee Endicott), to whom he was married for more than 53 years; his two children, Barbara Rands Valente (ex-husband, Sergio Valente and fiancée, Margarida Ventura) and William Endicott Rands (Dianna Simpson Rands), as well as Stash Capponi, whom he loved like a second son; his four grandchildren, Rebecca and JJ Valente and Will and Charlie Rands; and his granddog, Cinnamon.
The family will accept visitors between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, at Chas. Verheyden Funeral Home, 16300 Mack, Grosse Pointe Park.
A private memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church.
Memorial donations may be made to the following organizations or the nonprofit of the donor’s choice: Nathanson-Rands Breast Cancer Endowment at Henry Ford Health System, Attn: Jennifer Harmon, Directory, Principal Giving, 1 Ford Place, Suite 5A, Detroit, MI 48202, or visit henryford.com/tribute and select Nathanson/Rands from the dropdown menu; Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society, gpaas.org; Harbor Beach Lighthouse Preservation Society, harborbeachlighthouse.org