William Harper McDermott

William Harper McDermott, 80, of Vernon, beloved husband of Jean (Meyer) McDermott, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, at home. Bill was born in Nyack, NY, on April 7, 1942, son of the late Walter A. and Marion (Harper) McDermott. He graduated from Nyack High School and went on to graduate from the State University of New York in Cortland, before earning his master's degree at City College of New York. Bill married Jean Meyer on June 27, 1970, and they lived in Old Bridge, NJ, Suffern, NY, and Northville, NY, before settling in Vernon, CT, in 1976. Bill was a teacher, principal and salesman before retiring in 2006. For many years, he coached youth soccer and softball, was involved in cub scouts, taught Sunday school, and helped bring the church telephone ministry to a local convalescent home. Bill was the life of the party. He had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. A kind, caring, loving, and devoted son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend to many, he will be dearly missed. Along with Jean, his wife of over 52 years, he leaves his children, William E. McDermott of Austin, TX, and Lindsay M. Richards and her husband, Gregory, of South Windsor; his grandsons, Tyler and William Richards of South Windsor; his brother, Walter A. McDermott and his wife, Ann, of Ramsey, NJ; and his brothers-in-law, John Meyer and his wife, Hannelore, of East Orleans, MA, and Harry Meyer and his wife, Barbara, of Emerson, NJ; his nieces and nephews, Alison (John) Maston, Susan Watson, Heather (Scott) Summerer, Jamie (Meghan) McDermott, Kate (Ed) Oldak, Jen (Jim) Cunningham, TJ McDermott, Brian (Gina) McDermott, Sarah (Anthony) Mancusi, Meg (Jonathan) Flood, Eric Meyer, Heidi Miller, Craig (Eleanor) Meyer, Cary (Wynne) Meyer, Chris (Angie) Meyer, Kelly (Matt Janousek) Glynn, and John (Laura) Glynn. He was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane and Lynwood Watson and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joan and John Glynn. Bill's family would like to thank Pam, Karen, Sylvia, Bryeni, and Maxwell from Hartford Healthcare at Home for their exceptional assistance with his care. His family will receive friends on Friday, September 2, 2022, from 5 – 7 p.m., at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Rd., South Windsor. A memorial service will be celebrated on Saturday, September 3, 2022, 11 a.m., with burial immediately following at the First Congregational Church of Vernon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Beat Parkinson's Today, Inc., 102 Pitkin Street, East Hartford, CT 06108; www.beatpdtoday.com. For online condolences, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com