William J Donlon

William J Donlon obituary, East Hampton, CT

William J Donlon

William Donlon Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Spencer Funeral Home - East Hampton on Sep. 16, 2024.

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William "Bill" J. Donlon, 83, of East Hampton, beloved husband of Janet (Garofalo) Donlon passed away Friday Sept. 13 at Hartford Hospital. Born Nov. 12, 1940 in Hartford, CT, he was the son of the late Roy and Frances (Duggan) Donlon. Bill proudly served his country in the Army Reserves and earned his Bachelors from Springfield College and his Masters from CCSU. He was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in East Hampton, where he was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus Belltown Council. He was a Physical Education Teacher at William J. Johnston School in Colchester for 39 years.
As a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many, Bill cherished time spent with his loved ones. He found great joy in golfing, teaching, coaching, traveling, and rooting for his favorite team, the Boston Red Sox.
He is survived by his loving wife Janet, his son Mark Donlon and wife Julianne of Ashland, MA, his son Michael Donlon of Leadville, CO, a brother Edward Donlon of Bethlehem, CT, a sister Mary Carroccia of Newington, CT, his two grandchildren Hank William Donlon and Jolene Claire Donlon, sister-in-law Maria Hargus and her husband Ed of Gales Ferry, CT, special friends Frank and Donna Trybulski and John McKiernan, and many nieces and nephews who affectionately called him the "fun uncle". He was predeceased by his brother Roy "Duke" Donlon and his sister Jacqueline Skehan.
Friends may call at the Spencer Funeral Home 112 Main St. East Hampton on Thursday Sept. 19th from 8:30AM until 10:30AM. A Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM at St. Patrick's Church in East Hampton, CT, followed by burial at St. Patrick's Cemetery. To leave online condolences, please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to AlliesInHope.ORG of St. Jude's Children Research Hospital.
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Sign William Donlon's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

September 17, 2024

Sherry Baine posted to the memorial.

September 17, 2024

Nancy Dolde posted to the memorial.

September 16, 2024

Roy Donlon posted to the memorial.

3 Entries

Sherry Baine

September 17, 2024

I loved playing the Setback Tournament with Billy and Jan. You played by Billy´s rules. "You have to bid to win." But my favorite memory is when Billy came to see me in Steel Magnolias last Spring. Even with all his difficulties he still embraced life. When I saw him I almost cried. Nothing could have left a more lasting impression on my life than that unbelievably kind act from a very sweet man. May you find peace with our Lord Billy and I will always remember you have to "bid to win".

Nancy Dolde

September 17, 2024

My favorite memory of Bill is when we would play setback with him and he´d lift his card up high and say bam!! He took chances with his the amount of tricks he would take but won many times!

Roy Donlon

September 16, 2024

This may seem silly but my favorite memory of Uncle Bill was his years distributing gifts on Christmas Eve. There were at least a couple years where all of the cousins were young and families stayed at home and somehow (perhaps because he was still a bachelor) Bill got the job of going home to home to deliver and pick up gifts. I can still remember him coming in with a huge smile and laughing (a laugh that could not be mistaken for anybody else) with a huge sack of gifts on his back....he would stay for a bit, have something to eat and pass out all the gifts and then fill up on the ones my parents were sending elsewhere. Bill was no dummy.....it made no matter who had truly given me the gift....in my eyes he got credit for them all! He was only second to Santa Claus those years! I am so sorry for your loss Janet, Mark and Michael.
Roy Donlon

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Spencer Funeral Home - East Hampton

112 Main Street, East Hampton, CT 06424

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Sign William Donlon's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

September 17, 2024

Sherry Baine posted to the memorial.

September 17, 2024

Nancy Dolde posted to the memorial.

September 16, 2024

Roy Donlon posted to the memorial.