WILLIAM WERNER "BILL" SAYENGA

SAYENGA
WILLIAM WERNER "BILL"
Passed away peacefully January 13, 2017, in Yuma, Arizona at the home of his daughter, Ellen (Sayenga) Riek and her husband Dave, with whom he had lived for the past year. Bill was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1938, where he was raised with his dear sister, Louise (Sayenga) Randolph, by their beloved mother, Marie Minetti Sayenga. Marie held elected office in Bethel Township for over 24 years and Bill's entire life was shaped by her integrity, tremendous sense of humor, exceptional cooking, love of music, and zest for life. An English teacher by training and passion, he taught English at Nicholls School in Buffalo, NY for the first 15 years of his career beginning in 1963, and was an adjunct English faculty member at Arizona Western College for the last six years, where he taught alongside his daughter until his retirement in 2014. In addition to his sister and her children Celia, Charles, Amy, and Colin, his daughter, step-sons, Eric and Colin DesChamps, and many dear friends, Bill is survived by three grandchildren, David Riek, Jr., Stephen Riek, and Maggie Riek. He was rarely without a loyal dog in his life, and his sweet dog Shine was by his side to the very end. Bill's ashes will be scattered by his family in places that soothed his soul. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his honor to organizations Bill supported all of his life, including the ACLU, The Southern Poverty Law Center, Amnesty International, and the American Indian Education Fund.