Bill Maher

1949 - 2021

WATERLOO - Bill Maher, 71, passed away peacefully on Sunday (January 17, 2021) with his loving and supportive wife, Debra, by his side.

Friends and family are invited to call from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday (January 22) at the Waterloo Fire Department, 39 E. Water Street, Waterloo. A funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the fire house. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery.

Bill's family request, in lieu of flowers, kindly consider memorial contributions to either the Waterloo Fire Department, P.O. Box 513, Waterloo, NY 13165-0513 or Pathway Home of The Finger Lakes, P.O. Box 516, Seneca Falls, NY 13148-0516. These two places were very important to Bill and his family.

Bill was born on February 23, 1949 in Waterloo the son of the late Richard and Ruth J. (Robinson-Harris) Maher. He worked at the Seneca Army Depot, Bogart Plumbing and Heating, Stolz Machine Shop and retiring after 25 years, as a machinist, from Goulds Pumps. In retirement he worked for Rochester/Syracuse Auto Auction and Mull Funeral Home. He was a member of the junior Apple Knockers from 1962 to 1969. He was their star Spinning Cymbalist for many years. While he was a member of the Apple Knockers he held the position of equipment manager from 1967 to 1969.

In 1984 Bill joined the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department and remained active until 2020. During his time he held several positions including Lieutenant, Board Member and Captain of the Fire Police. Bill also was awarded Fireman of the year in 1988 and the Earl Lahr Memorial Award in 1994 and 2009.

Always very mechanical and interested in cars his entire life, he shared that knowledge with his son. His first classic cars were a 1965 and a 1985 El Camino. He found a 1963 Chevy Impala in a barn. He and his son restored it slowly bringing it back to a replica of his first car! He and Bill enjoyed attending car shows and racing his 1965 El Camino at the South Butler Nostaglia Drag Strip.

Bill is survived by his wife of 52 Years, Debra (Fenner) Maher, whom he married on December 21, 1968; his daughter, Diane; his son, Bill (Shannon); his grandsons Zach and Mason; his brother, Robert (Alice) Maher; sisters Caryl (David) Chiarilli and Nancy (Bill) Binns; several nieces, nephews and cousins; his aunts Velleda Gantz and Doris Moses; and numerous friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Louise Fenner; father-in-law, Francis "Sunshine" Fenner; and a brother-in-law, Dennis Fenner.