William D. Fay

On January 21, 2019, William D. Fay set out on life’s final voyage and began a new journey in uncharted waters. He passed peacefully at the Baptist Downtown Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. Mr. Fay, at the time of his death, was a resident of Darien, GA.

He was welcomed into the world on May 26, 1949, the son of James P. and Doris C. (Ireland) Fay, Sr., in Norwalk, CT. After graduating from Norwalk High School he went on to proudly serve our nation as a member of the United States Coast Guard. While serving in the Coast Guard, Bill graduated from the US Navy’s Seal School and was certified as a US Navy Master Diver. Bill was honorably discharged from the US Coast Guard with the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (E5).

Bill (known to his friends as Captain Bill) loved the sea. He located to Marblehead, MA, where he became a US Certified Sea Captain. During his long career as a captain, he worked in and out many harbors on the East Coast of North and South America, eventually settling Darien, GA. Bill worked for and retired from Marine Services, Inc. where he was a tugboat captain.

Maintaining his diving certifications through his life Bill performed the job of Safety Diver for many movie film crews on many movie sets in locations around the world.

Among Bill’s hobbies was the restoring of old cars and trucks, one of which is pictured in this obituary, as well as antiquing, for which he was always traveling. In addition Bill was a caring and compassionate person leaving behind many friends. His family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your local veteran’s outreach center, shelter and/or local food kitchen in his memory.

Bill is survived by his daughter Abigail Gillespie and her family of Boston, MA; his brother James P. Fay, Jr, and his wife Mary of Keene, NH; his sisters Mary-Ann Ancker and her husband Walter of Norwalk, CT; Patricia Collins and her husband Gerald of Marlow, NH; Nancy Cogliandro and her husband Chris of Dublin, NH; and several nieces, nephews and extended family members. He is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Thomas J. Fay.

Services will be held later this Spring and will be announced as the date draws closer.

In keeping with Bill's giving spirit, his family suggests that those who would wish to contribute in his memory due so to a local food pantry or organization that reaches out to those who are less fortunate.

The Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court St. Keene, NH is assisting the family with these arrangements. Please visit www.foleyfuneralhome.com to leave an online remembrance.