William Shaw, 79, chairman and co-founder of vacuum former UFP Technologies Inc., died Aug. 30 of pneumonia.
Shaw founded the firm as United Packaging in 1963 in his cellar with two partners. He served as the Georgetown-based company's chairman, president and treasurer, and remained chairman after retiring in late 1994.
``He was well-respected in the industry as a man of impeccable integrity and a pioneer in environmentally responsible packaging,'' said current President and Chief Executive Officer R. Jeffrey Bailly.
Shaw was a 1949 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and he retired as a Coast Guard commander after 30 years of service. In 1979, he received his master's degree in business administration from Northeastern University in Boston.
Shaw is survived by his wife, Carol, and six children.