1934 – 2015
NEWRY — Bill’s struggles with numerous health problems for many years ended peacefully at his home in the presence of his beloved wife and daughter on the evening of Monday, Feb. 16.
On Oct. 25, 2014, he celebrated his 80th birthday.
Kingston, N.Y., was his home through his sophomore year in high school when his parents, John and Mary Dinsmore Herlihy, moved their business to Fairfield, Conn., where Bill was a 1952 graduate from Roger Ludlowe High School.
He attended the University of Michigan, then served in the submarine service before finishing his degree in marketing from the University of Bridgeport in 1959.
His career included the Vicks Co., insurance, investment banking (testifying before a senate subcommittee regarding an employee stock buyout plan was a highlight), credit and collections and real estate sales for Sunday River in Newry and Highland Green in Topsham.
Summers at Camp Etowah in Fryeburg cemented his love of Maine (his mother was from Dover-Foxcroft) which became his permanent home in 1980.
His sister-in-law, Mary, introduced him to a 40-year-plus friendship with Bill W., which led him to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Darien, Conn., a milestone in his deeply spiritual walk.
His passion for skiing moved him to setting up media station competitions to support the early days of the Maine Handicapped Skiing Ski-A-Thon.
Sailing was his favorite summer pastime. Other joys came from reading World War II books, watching N.Y. Giants and Michigan Wolverines football games, all things Irish, big chocolate chip cookies, feeding the birds, walking along the Sunday River and especially the joy in being with Susan, whom he married on Sept. 28, 1990.
He had a knack for storytelling — those stories often included his brothers, who predeceased him — Jack, a torpedo bomber in World War II, and Bob, for whom Herlihy Peak in the Sierra is named.
He is survived by Susan; his daughter, Kerry and her husband, Alan Herrick, of Sebago; and his son, Brian and wife, Kate, of Chino, Calif.; Susan’s daughter, Julie of Orono and son, John, of Yarmouth; nine grandchildren, Cassandra Krainis (Josh), Keith Herrick, Kerry and Clare Herlihy, who were a particular source of light and love, as were Susan’s Tara, Kate, Sarah, Sydney and Taylor. He is also survived by Boston, Eilya, Isaiah and William — the four great-grands! Also surviving him are nephews, John, Tom and Patrick; and nieces, Patti and Julie and their families, whose education and careers were such a source of pride.
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