William “Bill” F. McAllister, Sr., 86, of East Hartford, loving husband of 59 years of the late Florence (Hickie) McAllister, peacefully passed on Tuesday November 19, 2019 at the McLean Home in Simsbury. Born in East Hartford on June 23, 1933, a son of the late Joseph G. and Mary (Gaines) McAllister, he had been a life-long resident of East Hartford. Bill was a graduate of East Hartford High School and a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Prior to his retirement, Bill was employed by the town of East Hartford for over 35 years working in the Sanitation and Landfill division. He was active with AFSCME and was a former officer and president of the Local Union 1174. A devout Catholic, Bill was a faithful communicant at Our Lady of Peace Church in East Hartford, and a longtime member of their Retirees Club. A talented musician, Bill enjoyed playing the guitar, singing, and entertaining his family and friends. He was a member of the Army Navy Club in Manchester and the former VFW Post # 2083, East Hartford. Bill loved baseball and softball and played organized softball into his 40’s, and was an ardent fan of the Boston Red Sox and UConn basketball, especially the women huskies. Most of all, Bill cherished his time with his family.
Bill is survived by his daughter Cheryl Hansen Gousse and her husband, Paul, of East Hartford with whom he made his home; his three sons, William F. “Billy” McAllister, Jr. and his wife, Jill, of South Windsor, Dr. Robert W. “Mac” McAllister and his wife, Lee Ann, of Simsbury, and Jeffrey G. McAllister and his wife, Christine, of Lebanon an “adopted son” (nephew) Edward McAllister ,Jr. and his wife Joyce. He also leaves his eleven special grandchildren, Deb Crooks and her husband Chris, Leah Zadrozny, Kristy Hansen, Danielle Folmar and her husband Josh, Amanda McAllister, Billy McAllister, III, Rocky McAllister, Ryan McAllister and his fiancée Sarah Gorecki, Sean McAllister and his fiancée Ally Chirico, Matthew S. McAllister and Jennifer Shepard Price and her husband Tony; a sister, Ann Lampkins of Enfield; several nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Funeral services will be on Saturday (November 23rd) at 10 a.m. from the D’ESOPO-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Peace Church of St. Edmund Campion Parish, 370 May Road, East Hartford. Burial with military honors will follow in Veteran’s Memorial Field-Silver Lane Cemetery, East Hartford. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home chapel on Saturday morning from 9 – 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in William’s name may be made to St. Edmund Campion Parish, 538 Brewer Street, East Hartford, CT 06118. For any online expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopo.com www.desopoeh.com
