Table of Contents
- A Life of Service and Sound
- Navy Secretary Who Shaped Modern Fleet
- Diplomatic Postings with a Musical Twist
- Architect of Conservative Fundraising
- Honors and Final Tributes
- Sources
J. William Middendorf II Dies at 101: Navy Chief, Diplomat, Composer
J. William Middendorf II, a towering figure in Republican politics, naval leadership, and classical music, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Fall River, Massachusetts. He was 101 years old. Known simply as “Bill” to friends and colleagues, Middendorf lived a life that defied easy categorization—serving as U.S. Secretary of the Navy, ambassador to multiple nations, prolific composer, and key architect of modern conservative fundraising.
His daughter, Dr. Amy Givler, confirmed his death. Middendorf had been residing in Little Compton, Rhode Island, in his later years.
Navy Secretary Who Shaped Modern Fleet
Appointed by President Gerald R. Ford in 1974, Middendorf led the Department of the Navy during a pivotal Cold War era. His tenure saw the advancement of several cornerstone defense programs:
- Ohio-class nuclear submarines
- Trident ballistic missile system
- Aegis combat system for surface ships
- F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet—named by Middendorf after a Revolutionary War vessel donated to the Navy by his ancestor
“He viewed the Navy not just as a military force but as a symbol of American innovation and resolve,” said a former Pentagon official who worked under his leadership.
Diplomatic Postings with a Musical Twist
Middendorf’s diplomatic career spanned two Republican administrations. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands under Richard Nixon (1969–1973), to the Organization of American States under Ronald Reagan (1981–1985), and to the European Community (now EU) from 1985 to 1987.
But what truly set him apart was his passion for classical composition. While stationed in the Netherlands, he composed his symphony “The Holland,” which was gifted to Queen Juliana on her 25th jubilee and broadcast nationwide.
As Navy Secretary, he penned dozens of patriotic marches like “Old Ironsides.” For Reagan’s 1981 inauguration, he wrote “Thumbs Up, America.” During his OAS tenure, he composed national anthems for 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries—a gesture of cultural diplomacy rarely seen in modern statecraft.
Architect of Conservative Fundraising
Before his government service, Middendorf co-founded the Wall Street firm Middendorf, Colgate & Company in 1962. That same year, he joined Barry Goldwater’s presidential campaign, eventually becoming its treasurer.
Though Goldwater lost in a landslide to Lyndon B. Johnson, Middendorf’s role helped lay the groundwork for the conservative movement’s rise. He remained Republican National Committee treasurer and was instrumental in Nixon’s 1968 victory.
In the 1980s, he led a Reagan transition team that recommended major CIA reforms—boosting covert operations and counterintelligence amid growing Soviet threats.
Honors and Final Tributes
Middendorf’s legacy endures in both policy and culture. In 2022, the U.S. Navy authorized a guided-missile destroyer—the USS J. William Middendorf—in his honor.
He also authored four books, including A Glorious Disaster (2006) on the Goldwater campaign and his 2024 memoir On My 100-Year Watch: Tyrants and Patriots, co-written with Kenneth R. Dooley.
An avid art collector, he donated significant works to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, both of which appointed him as an advisory trustee.
He is survived by daughters Dr. Amy Givler and Frances Middendorf, son Ralph, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. His wife, Isabelle Paine, died in 2016. Two children predeceased him: Martha (1979) and John (2024).
