William Wulfhorst Burchfield, 70, of Mill Neck, New York, passed away peacefully on the morning of May 24th at home in the loving care of his family and dogs following a courageous battle with illness.

Bill was born in Kingsville, Texas to Mary Jocelyn Burchfield and Dr. William Henderson Burchfield, while his father served his residency at the United States Naval Airstation. The first of four children, Bill grew into a conscientious, compassionate, and high achieving adult who dedicated his life to raising and supporting his family with his wife Nina McLane Burchfield. More than anything, Bill cherished his time with their three children and five grandchildren. It was that Lone Star spirit with which “Buffalo Bill” lived his life, always seeking the fullest version of himself and the life he lived, blending his commitment to his family and profession with a penchant for fun and adventure.

Bill’s work took him from Louisiana to California to New York and Arkansas, leaving his noteworthy, good nature, intelligence, and dependability behind wherever he ventured. When he wasn’t hard at work on the trading desks of DLJ, Morgan Stanley, Lazard, and lastly, Stephens, Bill spent his time on the Long Island Sound chasing fish, hunting upland birds in South Carolina, playing tennis, golf, and paddle tennis, and in his earlier days, tending the goal for the Princeton Hockey Club and St. Nick’s Hockey Club. His interests and talents spread far and wide, including his love of coaching Little League and AYSO and serving on the boards of both the Green Vale School and the Glen Cove Hospital.  A graduate of The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and Middlebury College in Vermont, Bill’s education was defined by his success as a scholar/athlete. He played ice hockey and lacrosse at both the high school and collegiate level and was known as a loyal teammate and robust competitor.

Bill is survived by his wife of 42 years, Nina McLane Burchfield; his three children and their spouses, William M. Burchfield and Hillary (Bunn) Burchfield, Jamie Burchfield and Chris Brown, and Jennifer (Burchfield) Bero and Larry Bero, and their five grandchildren to whom he was lovingly known as “Buff”. He is also survived by his mother, “Mame” Burchfield, his brother, Chris Burchfield, and sisters, Suzanne Burchfield and Sarah Carey, as well as countless other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Bill’s name to the Piping Rock Scholarship Fund, ℅ Piping Rock Club, 150 Piping Rock Road, Locust Valley, NY 11560

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held on June 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM at St John’s of Lattingtown followed by a reception at the Piping Rock Club.