William J. Dehey

William J. Dehey, D.D.S., M.A.G.D. 1941-2011 PITTSFIELD It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. "Bill" Dehey anounces his passing at age 70 on Monday May 16, 2011 at Bershire Medical Center. Bill will be lovingly remembered by his wife, the former Rita Perry, whom he married on July 6, 1963 at St. Agnes Church in Dalton. Born in Pittsfield on February 24, 1941, the son of William L. and Marion Elizabeth Burke Dehey, he was a 1958 graduate of St. Joseph Central High School, and a 1962 graduate of Holy Cross College where he led the football band and led his own dance band for which he played the saxophone. He was a Holy Cross man through and through and loved nothing better than to rib his Boston College friends. Continuing his education, he was a 1966 graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School where he was a member of the Gorgas Odontological Society and a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Phi Chapter. Dr. Dehey practiced dentistry for 45 years, and had been in partnership with Dr. James Nesti on South Street in Pittsfield since 1986. Dr. Dehey was an Attending Dentist at Berkshire Medical Center and a member of the Selection Committee for BMC residents. He served as a Dentist with the Pittsfield Public Schools Head Start Program prior to Proposition 2 1/2 . He was a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society and a member and Past Chairman of its Ethics Committee. He was a member of the Berkshire District Dental Society and served as its president from 1984 to 1986. He was a member of the Master of the Academy of General Dentistry and a member of the American Society of Dentistry for Children. A Viet Nam War veteran, Dr. Dehey enlisted with the United States Air Force on May 3, 1963. He was assigned to the United States Air Force Dispensary at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and served temporary duty at Headquarters Medical Service at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He was honorably discharged on June 13, 1968 having earned the rank of Captain. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and served on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Youth Center. Dr. Dehey was a communicant of St. Agnes Church where he served as Eucharistic Minister and Past President of the Parish Council. During the late 70's and early 80's he was the chior director for St. Agnes. He loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. He was a kind and gentle man. He enjoyed woodworking and was a model ship builder. He also enjoyed his garden and reading, as well as traveling to Aruba each winter for the last 25 years. He looked forward to vacations with his family each summer in York Beach. He loved beagles and raised several as a young man. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and had often spoke of his adventures at Little Otter off Lake Champlain as a child. Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Mary Callahan and her husband, Dennis, of Wenham, Mass., a son, William J. Dehey Jr. and his partner Amy Lee, of Fairfax, Vt.; a sister, Martha D. May and her husband, George, of Brentwood, N. H.; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Callahan, Grace Callahan, Liam Dehey, Phoenix Dehey; and several nieces and nephews. FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for Dr. William J. Dehey will be held Friday, May 20, at 10:15 a.m., from DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., at St. Agnes Church celebrated by Rev. Christopher J. Malatesta, Pastor. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Dr. Dehey may be made to St. Agnes Church in care of the Funeral Home, 890 East Main Street, Dalton.