Basil first became acquainted with Darien during his college summers, when he taught sailing at Noroton Yacht Club. Raised in Larchmont and New Rochelle, New York, he eventually made Darien his permanent home with his family after returning to the United States in the mid-1980s following several years in London.
A graduate of Ohio University, Basil earned his MBA from George Washington University and pursued a career in marketing and sales of enterprise information technology and software to the financial services industry. He retired in 2017.
While attending Ohio University, Basil met his wife, Leslie, a proud Pittsburgh native. Together, they raised three daughters—Kate, Kerry, and Leah—all of whom attended Darien public schools. In a remarkable display of consideration for their parents, all three chose Colgate University, although each has since pursued her own distinct path. The family has grown to include two sons-in-law and five grandchildren.
Basil remains an active sailor, continuing to race Sonars at Noroton Yacht Club, and enjoys winter skiing in Steamboat Springs. Since retiring, he has devoted more time to travel, taken on the continuing challenges of golf and learning French, and serves as a docent at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
