William A. Dorsey

William A. Dorsey, 79, died at his home in Columbus on April 7 of complications resulting from type 2 diabetes. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Robert W. and Mildred E. (Leonard) Dorsey, and his sister Mary K., all of Painesville, Ohio. He is survived by his brother, James L., of Painesville, and numerous close friends.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 20, at Schoedinger Funeral Home, 6699 North High Street, Worthington, Ohio, followed by a reception. A second memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 10, at the Painesville United Methodist Church, 71 North Park Place (parking in the back as well as on the square), followed by a reception. Both services will be webcast (see below).

Bill was born in Painesville, and was a graduate of Thomas W. Harvey High School there, where he played coronet in the school band for four years and was an active member in the Key Club. He was baptized at and was a member of Painesville United Methodist Church, where he was active in the youth choir. He was a graduate of Ashland College (now University) of Ashland, Ohio, and earned a masters in history from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania. While at Ashland, he was a member of the marching band and was elected an Ohio state officer in Circle K International.

Bill was devoted to advancing the quality of education in Ohio and was employed by the Painesville City school district for 34 years, 27 years as a math and Ohio history middle school teacher. He famously organized and led field trips to Washington, DC, and uniquely a multi-day trip to historical sites in Ohio. He managed a John Hopkins program for gifted and talented youth at the Painesville middle school.

From the beginning of his teaching career, Bill was active in local, state and national teacher associations. He also served on the board of the Ohio State Teachers Retirement System for 10 years, including terms as chair and vice chair, where he worked hard to improve retirement benefits for teachers, especially those retired teachers greatly impaired by the lack of annual inflation adjustments during the Great Inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s; to improve investment returns especially for real estate investments; and to provide more secure financing for retiree health benefits.

Painesville City Teachers Association: President for one year and 22 years as Executive Secretary & Treasurer.

Northeast Ohio Education Association: Member of the Board of Directors for 25 years; representative assembly delegate for 55 years.

Ohio Education Association: Secretary Treasurer from 1993-2000, where he guided the OEA through a period of financial distress, reorganizing the retirement system; Board of Directors for 25 years; chair of the committee that renovated the OEA headquarters building in 1997; co-founder of the GLBT Caucus serving as Secretary for 4 years; representative assembly delegate for 53 years, and a life member for 56 years.

National Educational Association: Member of the Board of Directors for 7 years and Steering Committee for 10 years; delegate and attendee at 52 consecutive NEA National Conventions and elected once again as a retiree delegate for the 53rd time this spring to the 2023 national convention; life member for 56 years. He was a founding member of the NEA GLBT Caucus.

Bill was especially fond of art and art museums; classical orchestras, choirs, and marching bands, especially The Ohio State Marching Band; botanical gardens and arboretums; plays and musicals, especially Broadway musicals; and parks and historical sites. He visited art museums, historical sites and museums, botanical gardens and arboretums, and parks in scores of locations across the U.S. and internationally. In later years of his retirement, Bill especially was fond of gardening and of raising house plants. He was a long-time member of many cultural institutions, including the Cleveland Museum of Art and Playhouse Square in Cleveland, and the Columbus Museum of Art, Franklin Park Conservatory, and Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), as well as a member of Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens in Mill Creek Park, Youngstown. Those wishing to make a contribution in honor of Bill should consider a donation to a local cultural institution in his name.

To view the webcasts of the two memorial services, use the "Join Livestream" link below on this Schoedinger webpage, on the Service Tab, to watch the live stream or watch the service afterward, and use the Painesville United Methodist Church website at www.pumconline.org.

The Painesville United Methodist Church is included in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2023, the church is celebrating the sesquicentennial of the beginning of construction of the church building. Here's a detailed history with pictures: https://www.pumconline.org/history/

Remembering Bill

A Celebration of the Life of William A. Dorsey

June 16, 1944 – April 7, 2023

If there is an opening for a tour guide in heaven, by now, Bill would’ve filled the position. By the time we get there, he will have seen to the weeding of the garden surrounding the pearly gates; made certain that the flowers were attractively planted and watered. Standing nearby, he’ll welcome us – arms opened wide, smartly dressed, shoes polished, wearing either a crisp button down or one of his 80 polo shirts and sport coat. He’ll greet us joyfully with a grin and an itinerary – a schedule orienting us to eternity, with a tour of every spacious room, and a detailed explanation about every magnificent view.

Several weeks ago, I received a call from Jack Chapman and Jodi Klamfoth. A treasured friend, they said, has passed away suddenly, leaving family and friends reeling in grief. As I visited with them and later with Bill’s brother Jim, my appreciation grew for the relationship you enjoyed together. Pastors have the unique opportunity to be invited into the ‘great moments’ of people’s lives – transitions of births, graduations, retirements and at the end of life. It’s a privilege and I want you to know that I’ve been honored to walk with you, to listen to your wonderful memories, to hear you describe for me what Bill meant to you.

I feel like our time together now is one where I get to hold up a mirror, reflecting back to you an image, a collage of experiences and events that you shared over the years. Your relationship with him was rich. The world is a poorer place without his physical presence. And I am grateful for this promise given to us in the scriptures - of the reality of a quality of abundant life that begins now, lived in God’s grace, that continues into eternity. We gather today in our grief to hear again the precious promises from our holy scriptures, that because of Christ’s gift of resurrection life, for us a people of faith, there are no final good-byes. There is merely, “Farewell, until we meet again.” What comfort…

The passage from Galatians, chapter 5, describes the “Life of the Spirit.” Maybe you remember the traditional list describing the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As I listened to your description of Bill’s character, I was drawn to the version of our scriptures we heard earlier known as “The Message.” It’s true; we are known by the kind of fruit our lives produce. In your stories, I got to know Bill and a began to see him in this passage as one whose life was filled with affection for others, one with an exuberance for life, a person possessing a quality of serenity, a compassion for others combined with a dogged persistence in seeking justice.

Over and over, as I spoke with many of you by phone, I heard about the sheer joy you took in being with Bill. I was struck by how many of you commented on the length of conversations you enjoyed with him, whether in person or by phone. Nurturing friendship takes an investment of time. This time spent is what makes our relationships valuable. Bill was willing to go deep and long in his relationships with family, friends, co-workers and students, and for this I heard your great appreciation.

Bill’s resume is impressive with it list of accomplishments. What’s more impressive is the fact that it was Bill’s passion for the common good, his commitment to the values of fairness and diversity that provided the bedrock for his actions, that motivated his service in leadership, whether as a member on the Board of the State Teachers Retirement Association, the Ohio Education Association, or the National Education Association, including the LGBT Caucus.

Brother Jim reflects with pride on Bill’s initiative in setting up and nurturing a John Hopkins curriculum at the Junior Highschool in Painesville; the many field trips he planned that broadened the horizons of those he taught. Marienne Liponi remembers Bill as a colleague who was deeply compassionate, who cared about his students, demanding the best from each.

God gifted Bill with a lively intellect and he stewarded this gift well. Jack spoke of the fact that as a student of contemporary culture, he read at least three papers daily, The Washington Post, New York Times and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Not only was he well-informed, but again, he valued the proper application of knowledge – known as wisdom.

Carol Kinsey, recalling that E.F. Hutton commercial, commented that whenever Bill spoke, people listened. As she described, Bill had lived through so much history of the teaching profession in Ohio that others benefited from its hearing. Conferences were made even more interesting when Bill would question the speakers – respectfully – as Carol described, but not letting them off the hook. He wanted to understand things deeply. As a life-long learner, his curiosity was insatiable. Someone commented ruefully, that without Bill, now their meetings would be shorter! And unfortunately, would no longer be as interesting…

What else did you appreciate about Bill?

His brother Jim speaks of the impact of their mother upon their lives, as an educator who began her vocation at age 18, teaching in a one room schoolhouse. Her example inspired Bill as a math and history teacher. Jim tells a story of jumping into the deep end of a pool, determined as he was to learn how to paddle by the ‘sink or swim’ method. And as his 17 year brother could see things weren’t going so well for this 10 year old, Bill dived into provide rescue. For this event, Jim carried a lifetime of profound gratitude. In recalling this memory recently, he was surprised to learn that his older brother had no recollection whatsoever of this event. This humility, he concluded, came from a pragmatism combined with a generosity of spirit. As Jim explains, several good friends described Bill’s saving intervention in their lives at times that made all the difference.

Karen Carraher treasured Bill’s expertise which he shared with her on the eve of an important interview. Thanks to the insight he generously shared with her beforehand, when the interviewers asked what questions she had, Karen was more than prepared to shine. Bill was so proud and excited when she was granted the position, thilled to celebrate her success. She’ll miss this loyal friend, their lengthy dinners where she could share the details of her work with Bill as one of few who could appreciate its complexity.

Mention Bill to Gary Peacock and he describes an ‘event planner par excellence.’ Over their 40 year friendship they traveled together often, going to National Education Association conventions in major cities. “It was like having my own tour guide,” said Gary. “Bill always had an itinerary detailing well researched sights we’d take in.” His was a spirit of adventure.

Jodi loved that she and Bill got to take cooking classes together. He loved to bring people together over good food, often organizing happy hours, dinner buffets. He was skilled at the art of hospitality. Evidence of Bill’s meticulous nature was the challenge of replicating his mother’s signature meatloaf. It took months of iterations! I’m delighted to let you know that I’ve brought 30 – make that 29 copies to share.

Everyone has rules for living. Thanks to you, I’ve learned a few of Bill’s. In your conversations afterward, I invite you to list some others – but here’s what I heard, in no particular order:

1. If your friend is coping with something difficult, tell them a story about a struggle in your own life. Keith Armour appreciated Bill as the rare kind of friend who could be honest with you as a way of looking out for your best interests.

2. Because you’ve received so much from life, be sure to pay it forward at every opportunity by being a mentor to others.

3. Never forget that Cleveland is the center of the world. Six years ago, Bill took both Gary and Keith on a tour which included hearing the orchestra, seeing every museum and enjoying fine dining.

4. When friends come over, a visit is transformed into an event when you share an appetizer with cheese, crackers and jalapeno jelly. And don’t forget the charcuterie board.

5. Promote home gardening at every opportunity, even in your downtown highrise. Take charge by designing a lottery system when a limited number of garden plots are available for the folks who want one. And in a commitment to fairness, place yourself in the lottery too. Be relieved when you come up as number 8! Whew!

6. Every city has great museums – go see them, then support them generously.

7. Theatre is a great way to be moved by both story and song.

8. Visit botanical gardens to take in beauty because it’s just good for the soul. Linger to smell the roses and enjoy the exotic plants.

9. The world is full of wonderful things. Learn as much as you can. Then share what you know with others.

And last of all, #10,

10. Never pass up an opportunity to eat at a cafeteria.

For Bill, all of life was a buffet, a gracious gift given by God for us to enjoy. We’re reminded of the scriptures in which Jesus says, I came that you might have life, and have it abundantly! And we, who are made in the image of this endlessly creative, compassionate, extravagantly gracious and welcoming God can be grateful for the way Bill lived, so faithfully in our midst.

We grieve his untimely passing. We share both our sorrows and our joys – and in doing both, we invest ourselves in Christ’s abundant life. But there’s more. Jesus spoke of seeds falling into the ground. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain – but if it dies, it bears much fruit. First comes dying, then a period of rest in dormancy. This is the nature of grief. There’s the shock of loss, followed by a time of waiting, being, remembering. Jesus speaks of the necessity of dying which makes possible new life. For truly, Bill has planted seeds within each of you as his family members, friends, co-workers, students. You are his legacy. Made in the image of God our Creator who is both merciful and just, Bill reflected this image in his passions and values. What will you do with the garden God has planted in you through the inspiration of Bill’s life?

Today we grieve, yes. But we grieve as people with hope. For as we run the race of life, thanks to Christ’s promise of resurrection life, the saints, Bill has taken his seat with all the saints. Together they watch with all of heaven, over the arena of human affairs, joining with the very Spirit of God in praying for us, encouraging us, cheering us on. Can you picture Bill there?

Bill lived his life in ways that reflected the image of God. The Good News that Jesus came to bring us is this: that all of our days are caught up in God’s endless presence. Living in grace, each day we hear Christ speaking to us saying, Remember that I love you; your mistakes and failings I forgive, your brokenness I will redeem, and daily I will bless you to be a blessing to one another and the world.

Bill’s life was fruitful, producing integrity, loyalty, devotion, compassion, justice, earth-keeping and friendship treasuring. In cultivating these holy values he partnered with God, planting goodness in our world and in your lives. And now – you get to water these seeds, nurture them with your prayers and your actions – in ways that continues to bring beauty, in ways the honors his life, in ways that gives glory to our loving God.

So, today and for the days ahead, give thanks to God, for gift of abundant, resurrection life promised to us in Christ’s dying and rising – the kind of life that begins now and will carry us into eternity. Thanks be to God for life shared with Bill. Amen!