WILLIAM LILLIS

LILLIS--William G. William "Bill" Lillis, of Guil-ford, CT and Rockport, MA, passed away on Friday, October 29 at the age of 91. Bill was an accomplished athlete: captain of his high school lacrosse team, inducted into the Lower Merion Lacrosse Hall of Fame; captain of the Varsity Lacrosse Team for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1952 winning the National Championship after an undefeated season. That same year, Bill was invited to play in the U.S. North/South Senior All Star game where he was captain of the North team and his brother Tom Lillis was captain of the South team. After college Bill took up tennis and sailing and continued to follow high school and college lacrosse. When he died he still had his college lacrosse defense stick kept in a safe place. Bill graduated from RPI in 1952 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree. Following his graduation he was a Commissioned Ensign for the Civil Engineer Corps for the United States Navy, honorably discharged as a Lt. JG in 1960. While attending RPI Bill met his future wife Nancy Wilcox who was attending Skidmore, just up the road from RPI. They were married on June 26, 1954. They had three daughters, Susan, Deborah and Jennifer. Bill was a real family man. He always found time for his children and supported them without condition in their life and career choices. Bill was an avid nature enthusiast and bird watcher. He would often be the first person up in the morning and leave the house with his daughter Jennifer to bird watch. Those moments were and continue to be precious to her. Bill was a devoted and generous husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle, and great uncle. He adored his grandchildren, Christopher McDonough, Aidan Lillis-White, Barrett North, Hannah North, Conor Lillis-White, and Dylan McDonough. He never forgot their birthdays, always sending a card and a check. He generously sponsored many holiday get togethers and family reunions (two of which were held in southern France). He attended his grandchildren's many sporting events, celebrated their academic and personal achievements, and hosted them for weeks during the summer. They returned his love and affection by making an effort to call or write to him on a regular basis and when able to travel long distances to visit with him. Bill was thrilled when his first great grandchild Lucy Wilcox McDonough was born last year. He had not lost his ability to charm young children and she returned the favor. In recent years, Bill had the pleasure over the summer of living at Leetes Island, Guilford, next door to his niece, Rindy Freimuth, her husband Rob Freimuth and often his niece Betsy Swallow who provided him with endless assistance, care and more than a few laughs at cocktail hour. Bill had a long and accomplished career. In his early years he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Bush Terminal Associates in Brooklyn, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1970 Bill was hired as Senior Vice President for Helmsley- Spears, Inc. and Executive Vice President of Helmsley Enterprises, Inc. He worked extensively with Harry B. Helmsley in New York and nationally managing acquisition of new properties and construction of all new buildings. He often regaled friends and family with his many stories of working in the New York real estate industry during the 1970s. Following his work with Harry Helmsley, Bill became President and CEO of Empire Savings Bank, Chief Operating Officer of American Savings Bank and Trustee and Director of the Retirement System for Savings Institutions. He retired in 1993. Bill loved to travel. After their children were grown, Bill and Nancy enjoyed traveling around the United States attending many banking conventions, traveling to Europe with his sister Jeanne and husband Ed Grimes and with close friends Joan and Bill Wynne. Over the years they took more than 20 trips to Europe. Bill cared for his wife Nancy when she developed dementia in her later years. He was adamant that she be able to remain at home during her illness and with Bill's care she was able to do so. In addition to his strong bonds with his family, Bill was a friend and mentor to many friends and proteges. He was always happy to sit down and listen to someone's tale, tell a few stories of his own and dispense some reasonable advice. He will be missed genuinely by all who knew him. Bill is survived by sisters Jean Grimes and Faith Miller and husband Lester Miller, brother Tom Lillis, lifelong friend Alan Kirk, daughter, Susan Lillis and husband Kevin McDonough, daughter Jennifer North, son in law Tom White, grand children: Christopher McDonough and wife Joanna McDonough, Barrett North and wife Julianna North, Hannah Addabbo and husband Pat Addabbo, Conor Lillis- White and fiance Heather Whitehead, Dylan McDonough and fiance Sally Ratrie, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. He was predeceased by his wife Nancy, sisters Pat Jones and Lotty Markle, daughter Deborah Lillis, and grandson Aidan Lillis-White. A celebration of life will be held in August, 2022 in Guilford, CT. Regards, memories or for more information, contact Susan at: sglillis56@gmail.com