William T. (Bill) Blakeslee

WALLINGFORD - William T. Blakeslee (Bill), 52, of Wallingford, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011 at Yale New Haven Hospital.

He was born in Meriden, on Sept. 10, 1958, the son of Ronald Blakeslee, Sr., of Wallingford and the late Elaine Nitkowski and was predeceased by his grandmother, Irene Dittberner and his great-uncle and aunt, Frank and Alma Hubert, of Wallingford, who meant the world to him. He also leaves his stepmother, Rollande Blakeslee; and brother, Ken Blakeslee, of Meriden; a brother, Ronald Blakeslee, Jr., of Wallingford; a sister, Linda (Blakeslee) Wilkinson and her husband, Neil; his two nephews, Evan and Garrett Wilkinson, of Wallingford; and his dear companion, Fran Barber, of East Haven.

Bill loved people and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with people from many backgrounds and cultures. For many years, he was a truck driver, a bartender, and enjoyed playing travel pool. During his teen age years, he spent a great deal of time playing in statewide chess tournaments for the Wallingford Boy's Club and was a member of the swim team as well. He loved to do card tricks and to do hand stands throughout the neighborhood, he was quite the entertainer. Bill loved the beach, and he loved going to the gym to both train and to socialize. Bill was also an avid Red Sox fan and was able to make it up to Fenway Park recently to see a game. He also loved football and was an avid Green Bay Packer's fan. Bill was politically active and enjoyed attending political events. Bill was able to share his love of sports with his nephew, Evan, by teaching him how to play chess and by playing baseball and football with him whenever he could. Bill's enthusiasm, his love of sports, his love of people, and his sense of humor will be truly missed and those memories will be forever cherished.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, Sept. 15, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the V.F.W., 23 Prince St., Wallingford (children welcome.)

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, Sept. 16, at 9:30 a.m. in Saint Peter and Paul Church, 139 North Orchard St., Wallingford. Burial in St. Peter and Paul Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Wallingford Wishing Well, 382 North Cherry St., Wallingford, CT 06492 in his name.