William W. Kazar

1961 - 2018

GREENFIELD - William Wright Kazar, 57, of Greenfield, Massachusetts, died July 15, 2018 at Baystate Medical Hospital in Springfield, following a brief illness.
He was born in Washington D.C. on May 21, 1961, the son of the late John D. Kazar, Jr. and Janet Wright Kazar. William was a 2015 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, a 2007 graduate of Greenfield Community College, and a 1979 graduate of Frontier Regional High School.
He had a life-long passion for sports, rock music, and graphic novels.
William struggled for nearly forty years with schizophrenia and made a remarkable, courageous, and difficult journey from Northampton State Hospital to living in the community. He returned to school several times, eventually achieving his B.A. degree in English. He read deeply and widely, seeing reading as one key to the restoration of his mind. He wrote poetry and prose, often depicting his struggles, always with an optimistic vision. "I am a schizophrenic. This is not so much an assignment, as it is a mandate. A mandate for finding reason, success, and inspiration." William was a gentle, kind and generous man who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
William was the beloved brother of Diane Worth and her husband Christopher, of Northfield; John D. Kazar III, and Emily Kazar, both of South Deerfield; nephew of Jean and Ken Wood of Lebanon, OH, the late William and Norma Johnson of Pembroke, MA and Anne Kazar and the late Donald Kazar of Largo, FL. William was the uncle of Benjamin Worth of Gardner, Cassandra Kazar of South Deerfield, Emma Worth of Northfield and John Henry Kazar of South Deerfield.
A memorial service will be held at the chapel of The Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew, at 8 Church Street in Greenfield at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 3, 2018. Following the service, family and friends are invited to gather in the Whiteman room for lunch and remembrances. The family hopes to see as many of Bill's friends as possible, as his friendships were so important to him.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McCarthy Funeral Homes of Greenfield and Turners Falls. Guest book and condolence messages are available at www.mccarthyfuneralhomes.com.