William H. Maloney

December 7, 1937-January 10, 2013

“God,

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can,

and wisdom to know the difference.”

William, known as Bill, was born to William Francis and H. Lillian Maloney in the small town of Willimantic, Connecticut. He enjoyed reminiscing about growing up in small town America where he and his brother, John, would spend long days playing in the streets until dinner time. He loved and respected his parents tremendously and was forever grateful to them for being hard-working and faithful servants to their family and the Lord.

Bill attended the University of Connecticut where he met Edith Drapans. They were married on December 7, 1962. They became the proud parents of three children: Rick, Lisa and Leslie and, ultimately, grandparents to Leslie’s daughter, Alexandra McKenna Burgess (1991), and Lisa’s daughter, Grace Lillian Cimilluca (2008). They resided in Connecticut and New Hampshire where Bill worked as a safety engineer for various insurance companies. In 1971, the family moved from New Hampshire to Florida.

He remained in Florida until his passing.

In 1976, Bill married Marilyn Dahl. The sunset beach wedding took place at the Driftwood Inn in Vero Beach, FL and included Marilyn’s children Denise, Chris, Eddie, Monica and Mary. Bill’s children Lisa and Leslie were also present. This “Brady Bunch” of a family resided in Vero Beach and enjoyed many happy times eating “Earthquake” ice cream bowls at Swenson’s. Clamming in Sebastian was also a favorite past-time. Their beautiful daughter Mandy was born on August 28, 1978 and he became the proud grandfather of Mandy’s son, William Chandler, in 2008.

Around 1981, Bill relocated to the west coast of Florida, where he resided in Sarasota and worked in the lumber sales industry until 2010. It was here in Sarasota that he met his wonderful wife Shirley. They met at the Church of the Incarnation and were married there on March 7, 1987. Shirley fondly referred to Bill as “Willy”. They spent their lives together enjoying sports, time with family and friends and sharing chocolate brownies! Bill grew close to Shirley’s children: Terri Cote, Robin Santore, Patty Murrer, Mike Locotosh, Pam Locotosh and Michelle Kubea. Ultimately, he became Grandpa to her children’s children: Chris Cote, Jeremy Cote, Jessica Cote, Dominic Santore, Ashley Murrer, Abby Murrer, Stacey Gray, Paul Locotosh, William Locotosh, James Locotosh, Megan Knotts, and Nicolette Kubea as well as a Great Grandpa to Blake West, Mason Murrer and Teagan Cote.

Dad enjoyed the simple things in life including spending time with his family, chocolate covered brownies “with no nuts“, a good rare steak with a baked potato, watching the Red Sox and Patriots, attending car races, bass fishing, a good cup of coffee and spending time with the Lord. A faithful servant, he would always arrive to church an hour early to pray for others. As children, we knew our father as a calming force in our lives, someone we looked up to, leaned on and learned from. He taught us about the Lord, the importance of living one day at a time, and was a shining example of a father committed to his children. He never missed an important event or milestone…even if it meant driving 8 hours round-trip in one day to attend. He was committed to waking up each morning, getting dressed, saying his prayers and facing the day head-on!

To his grandchildren, he was known affectionately as “Papaloney”. Chandler and Grace would love to sit and watch their favorite show, “The Octonauts”, with Papaloney and Grandma Shirley. It was such a gift that he was able to spend his 75th birthday as well as Thanksgiving and Christmas with most of his family, including grandchildren Dominic, Alexandra, Nicolette, Grace and Chandler. Nicolette was able to spend some quality time with Bill this December, looking through an old scrapbook of his and learning more about his life and the life of his father. Grace and Chandler loved when he did his little “jig” and when he would share a cinnamon raisin bagel with them. Laughter was plentiful….the best medicine. Our Dad was a “saver”…he saved every little trinket and drawing that his children and grandchildren gave him. He enjoyed having photographs and special things around him at all times. He was quite sentimental and that quality has certainly been passed along to his family.

In his final days, we realized more and more how much of an impact he made on so many people. Long-time friends and acquaintances called on him often to check on him and catch up. Many came to visit him in the hospital….Joe drove almost 8 hours through the night so he could spend some quality time with his best buddy. We met and became closer to so many of his friends who couldn’t say enough about the wonderful man our Dad was. We listened to many fishing and racing stories and learned more about his life as a younger man than we had known before. We thank all of those friends who were there for Dad and for us during his final weeks and days.

You were our angels in our time of need.

Dad never stopped fighting. After his diagnosis of lung cancer in 2010, he never gave up and only talked about getting better. He would refuse reading material while receiving chemotherapy…choosing instead to pray (for four hours or more) for all of the patients also receiving treatment. He was so gracious to his doctors and nurses, joking with them often and sharing laughs. We admire that quality in him so much. Up to his very last hours he kept a positive attitude, treated everyone with love and a grateful heart and remained peaceful knowing the Lord was with him.

We are grateful to the Moffitt Cancer Center and the treatment he received there. We spent many long days with him while he received treatment. He enjoyed visiting with the therapy dogs and making art in the Arts in Medicine room. Chandler and Grace created some beautiful pieces of art for him while they waited for him to receive treatment.

We will miss you William Hevrin.

But we do know where you are, tucked safely under the arm of our Lord Jesus Christ….right where you belong. We will miss your laugh, our daily phone conversations, your patriotic passion for your country and your family, watching the Red Sox, your prayers for “green lights and parking spaces”, your ever-present support and love, your “jigs”, your fatherly advice and yes, we will miss you telling us how to drive! Cancer may have taken your body, but it did not take away your spirit!

You live on in Heaven and in our hearts….always.

We love you.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday January 18th, 2013 at 1:00 PM, at

Church of the Incarnation located at

2901 Bee Ridge Road

Sarasota, FL 34932

Reception immediately following in the clubhouse

at Village in the Pines.

Directions will be provided at funeral.

In lieu of flowers, please consider charitable donations to the following funds:

1. St. Vincent De Paul Fund

Mail to: Church of the Incarnation

2901 Bee Ridge Road

Sarasota, FL. 34932

2. Salvation Army

PO Box 2792

Sarasota, FL. 34230

3. Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation

12902 Magnolia Drive

Tampa, FL. 33612

Write this fund number on the memo section of your check: #33360 OR write 'Arts in Medicine'

You can also donate online at www.Moffitt.org and follow the instructions on the 'Make a Donation' tab. Arts in Medicine should be listed as one of the fund options.

Dad, his children & grand children spent lots of time creating meaningful art in the Arts in Medicine room at Moffitt. We created beads, paintings, origami, necklaces, etc. It was a place of healing & solace for us as well as many other patients & families.

“What Cancer Cannot Do”

Cancer is so limited….

It cannot cripple LOVE

It cannot shatter HOPE

It cannot corrode FAITH

It cannot destroy PEACE

It cannot kill FRIENDSHIP

It cannot silence COURAGE

It cannot suppress MEMORIES

It cannot invade the SOUL

It cannot steal ETERNAL LIFE

It cannot conquer the SPIRIT