Bill was born to the late Clyde and Gretchen Cannon, July 29, 1934, in Brockton, MA. Bill graduated valedictorian from Brockton High School, and received a degree in Floriculture from the University of Massachusetts in 1954. Many years later, the School of Stockbridge recognized their graduates and awarded him his rightful Bachelors degree.
Bill married Nancy LeCour on December 26, 1955 and moved to Holbrook, MA, then Abington MA, before relocating to Brewster in 2005.
Bill worked as a horticulturist at several garden centers, finally retiring from the Garden Gate in Abington in 2005. Bill and Nancy moved to the family home in Brewster where he tended to his beloved hollies and boxwood.
Over the years, Bill was involved in a variety of activities. He was a "temporary" cub master for the boy scouts for twelve years. He was president of the Holly Society from 2007-2008, and a lifetime member. He received the Thomas Roland Medal in October 2018 from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
For many years, Bill loved to share his knowledge by giving tours of his holly farm, giving lectures all over the state, and as a garden writer for the Patriot Ledger. He was interviewed and quoted in countless articles and brochures, including CapeCast, and he was interviewed for the Chronicle in 2018.
He was a member of the Historical Society in Brewster, and served on the Brewster in Bloom parade committee for several years. He also appeared as Santa Claus beside his Mrs. at the Christmas Dinner at Our Lady of the Cape for many, many years.
Bill was an avid photographer, he collected Inuit art, and was an amateur salt and fresh water aquarium collector. His knowledge was so vast on that subject, that he was consulted during the design of the Boston Aquarium. He was an expert marksman, and competed as a finalist for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Bill was a talented and joyful singer. He sang in choirs and choruses, and even sang on the radio in Brockton in Lithuanian - he learned all the songs phonetically. Bill loved to travel with his wife Nancy; some of his favorite places were Ireland, Italy and Nova Scotia. His Irish jokes were legendary.
Everyone who knew Bill and Nancy loved them. They were the best neighbors, friends, parents and family anyone could ask for.
Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife Nancy, and his brother Richard and is survived and deeply missed by his brother-in-law Richard LeCour and family, sister-in-law Margot Marino and family, six children and their spouses: Bill and Regina, Bruce and Pam, Suzanne and Rafael, David and Cheryl, James and Angela, and Megan and RJ, fifteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Bill’s large and loving family is his greatest legacy.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to Cape Cod Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, 2095 Main St, Brewster, MA 02631.
Visitation will be held on Thursday November 16, 2023 from 4-7pm at Doane Beal and Ames, South Dennis, MA. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday November 17, 2023 at 11am at Our Lady of the Cape Church, Brewster, MA.
