William Prendergast

William Prendergast 1927 - 2008 Lanesboro William P. Prendergast, Sr. 81, of 99 Summer Street, Lanesboro, Ma. Died Monday at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. Born on Sept. 11, 1927 in Pittsfield, son of Michael and Geneva Paradis Prendergast. He was a 1945 graduate of Pittsfield High School; he attended the New England Conservatory of Music and was a 1949 graduate of Deforest Technical Institute in Chicago. He was a World War II Army and Merchant Marine Veteran. He was first employed in Television Repair for Sears & Roebuck Co. and for Sammy Vincent. He was last employed for the General Electric Co. Ordnance dept. as a circuit design engineer; he retired after 27 years of service in 1989. He had also taught electronics courses in the evening at GE. Mr. Prendergast was an accomplished musician, he had his first pro job at the age of 15 and had played in a variety of bands including, Jack Wring, Pete Vittone, Frankie Miller and Alan Grieve. Bill was an accompanist for the BMC follies, the telephone company and the Boy's Club minstrels; he also directed the senior follies and the Irish follies. Bill served as the organist at North American Martyr's Church in Lanesboro as well as Saint Agnes Church in Dalton. Bill had taught piano and organ lessons at his home for more than 50 years. He was a communicant of North American Martyr's Church, a member of the American Federation of Musicians since 1943 and was a member of the Irish American Organization and had served as a former board member and had been named person of the year at onetime. He enjoyed gardening and family trips. He leaves his beloved wife the former Rosemary H. Roberts whom he married June 5, 1948 at St. Joseph's Church in Pittsfield, besides his wife he leaves his children William P. Prendergast Jr., and his wife Donna, of Lanesboro, Michael D. Prendergast Sr., and his wife, Jackie of Adams, Mary Lou Trzcinka, and her husband, Joseph of Pittsfield, and Anne M. Paris, and her husband, Paul, of Oxford. A brother, Paul Prendergast of New City, N.Y. Six grandchildren, Adam and Jason Luscier, W. Gabe Prendergast, Daniel and Briana Paris, and Michael D. Prendergast, Jr., two great-grandchildren, Alexandrea and Abigail Luscier. He was predeceased by a brother, Leo Prendergast. FUNERAL NOTICE: The funeral will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 with a concelebrated Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9 a.m. at Saint Agnes Church in Dalton, MA. Celebrated by the Rev. Christopher A Malatesta and the Rev. David R. Raymond. Burial will follow in Mountainview Cemetery in Lanesboro, Ma. Calling hours at DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford St. Pittsfield, Ma. will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials in his memory may be made to the Lanesboro Elementary School Music and Drama Department in care of the funeral home.