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William Danaher Obituary

William “Bill” Danaher was born April 16, 1934 in Torrington, Connecticut. He was the second son of Dr. Thomas and Helen Danaher, both of Thomaston, Connecticut. Bill and his brother, Thomas, or “Tom,” were the sons of a prominent surgeon in a small manufacturing town. Tom followed in his father’s footsteps and became a surgeon. Bill’s journey was not so straightforward, primarily due to his alcoholism, which began to surface in college. He attended the College of the Holy Cross for three years until, precipitated by disciplinary and academic issues, he withdrew to enlist in the Air Force. Fortunate all his life, he was accepted into flight school even though he did not have the prerequisite bachelor’s degree. After graduation, he was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service. When his ranking officers noticed his organizational abilities and energy, he was posted as a Maintenance Officer. This led to an assignment with The Strategic Air Command to Morocco, a critical post during the Cold War. His command of French provided entry and access to fellow officers in the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The friendships he made, and the advantages these provided in a “neutral country” still receiving military aid and personnel from the Soviet Union, were one of the highlights of his military career. The aptitude for cross-cultural communication and fluency he gained there served him well the rest of his life. However, during this time, the alcoholism that cut short his college career progressed, and he elected to be discharged from the Air Force to avoid further disciplinary charges. For the same reason, his first marriage, through which he was blessed with two daughters, Dorothy and Joanne, ended in divorce. While in the midst of being discharged and divorced, he began to read Alcoholics Anonymous, otherwise known as the “Big Book,” written by Bill Wilson. This led him to the fellowship formed by the author, which provided him with the support and nurture he needed to obtain sobriety, which began on New Year’s Day, 1964. Intent on making amends, he returned to his hometown. He rekindled a relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Jeanne Zoli, who was the love of his life. They were wed by a justice of the peace on February 15, 1965 and later married in the Roman Catholic Church on February 13, 1979. Bill adopted Jeanne’s son from her previous marriage, John, and together they had another son, also named William (“Bill”). Through Jeanne’s undying encouragement and loving support, Bill returned to the College of the Holy Cross, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1966. During this time, he made ends meet by selling small airplanes and giving flying lessons to the teaching clergy of his college. Degree in hand, he was hired by Northeast Airlines. Northeast was acquired by Delta Airlines in 1972, which led to a fulfilling and successful career lasting 32 years. Bill flew all of the aircraft in the Delta fleet and on most of its national and international routes. It is impossible to overstate the joy he experienced in being an airline pilot. He loved every aspect of his career. He conscientiously stayed physically fit, constantly worked to perfect his knowledge and skills, and delighted in traveling the globe. He was an avid gun collector and hunter of fowl, small game, and big game. He was also an expert horseback rider, and he took many trips to Ireland to fox hunt – a pastime more akin to the modern steeplechase than to its much tamer iteration in the United States. His greatest source of spiritual strength and comfort was his membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. He regularly attended three meetings a week, no matter where he was, and this fellowship brought him into contact with people from all walks of life all over the world. He was actively involved in helping others find treatment and sobriety. He sponsored many fellow alcoholics, serving as their friend, mentor, and, at times, surrogate father. He successfully advocated for better employee assistance programs for addiction at Delta and at other airlines. He was active in a recovery group for pilots known as “Birds of a Feather International” (boaf.org). Finally, following the traditions and practices of the Alcohol Anonymous program, he increased his conscious contact with God, becoming, in his later years, unexpectedly religious. Bill was a handsome, gregarious, generous, charming man who was quick with a smile and a story. One that he enjoyed telling was of landing a small plane on the practice football field of Holy Cross. Risk-assessment was not a gift he possessed, and this meant he most often learned life’s lessons the hard way. He embraced and often lived up to his life-long nickname, “Wild Bill.” However, when he practiced his program, he became his best self, and his prodigious social skills became powerful forces for good. Particularly to those who struggled with addiction, he was known for his kindness, wisdom, and availability. Most importantly, he was quick to acknowledge his wife, Jeanne, as the reason he achieved what he did in his life. She was his north star, his best friend, his lover. Toward the end of his life, aside from sobriety, he believed that his greatest achievement was returning to her in equal measure the immense love she gave to him. Bill is survived by his wife, Jeanne, his brother Tom (Nancy), his sons Dr. John W. Danaher (Jill), The Rev. Dr. William J. Danaher, Jr. (Claire), his daughter, Joanne Chitty, and his grandchildren, Kate, Jack, Phoebe, Rose, Stephen, and David. An online service followed by an outdoor, in-person interment with military honors in the columbarium will take place at Christ Church Cranbrook at 11:00am on Saturday, January 30 (please use the following link: https://christchurchcranbrook.org/church-at-home/). Memorial gifts may be made in Bill’s name to Alcoholics Anonymous, General Service Office, Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, or to Christ Church Cranbrook, 470 Church Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. A.J. Desmond & Sons, (248) 549-0500.
Sign tribute wall at AJDesmond.com

Published by Litchfield County Times on Jan. 25, 2021.
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Jan

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Service

11:00 a.m.

Christ Church Cranbrook

MI

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A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Directors

32515 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073

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