William H. Underhill

William H. Underhill

REXFORD, N.Y. - Son of the late Benjamin H. and Ada Collins Underhill.

He was predeceased by his son, John William Underhill; brother, Earl G. Underhill; sister-in-law, Irene Underhill; sister-in-law, Emily R. Underhill; as well as cousins: Margie Ann Moulton Cuttler, Joan Culligan Toscano, and Tommy Culligan.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Noreen (Noonan) Underhill; sons, Benjamin A. Underhill of New York, N.Y. and Robert T. Underhill of Brooklyn, N.Y.

He is also survived by his brother, Robert B. Underhill; brother-in-law, John J. (Martha) Noonan; cousins: Jack (Martha) Underhill, Fred (Sylvia) Collins, David (Carol) Collins, Barbara Bartling, Jay Northrop, Linda (Harry) Nicholsen; nieces and nephews: Arlene Seelye, William R. (Nadine) Underhill, Debby Henderson, Julie (Michael) Prezioso, John R. (Debbie) Underhill, Mary Underhill and John Jos. (Ashley) Noonan and several grand nieces and nephews.

At the age of five Bill contracted Polio and was treated at Sunnyview Hospital. He had many surgeries after that and received treatment until the age of 19. Bill attended Halsey Elementary and Washington Irving Jr. High School.

In 1952, Bill had to choose which high school to attend, Nott Terrace or Mont Pleasant. His brothers had gone to Mont Pleasant, but Bill chose NOTT TERRACE and graduated in 1955. He didn't know it at the time, but this was a life changing decision. It was at Nott Terrace that he met his history teacher, mentor, and later friend, Mr. Joseph Czyzewski (Mr. C.) who in the spring of his senior year, encouraged him to go to teachers' college, telling Bill that it was tuition free at New York State Universities for teachers. Going to college changed his whole life as only good things followed.

He received his BA and MA degrees from New York State College for Teachers at Albany (SUNY), majoring in social studies and minoring in French. He always planned on teaching history, but a friend told him of a position teaching French at Averill Park Central. He decided to try it for a year. He would teach French for the next 37 years and never looked back.

He continued his Post-Graduate studies at SUNY, Albany in French and at St. Lawrence University in the summer of 1962. In the summer of 1963 he went to France, rented a car and toured the country, making lifelong friends. In 1964 through the auspices of the University of Oregon he studied at Tours, France.

He taught French at Averill Park Central from 1961-1963, Mechanicville High School from 1963 to 1966. It was at MHS that he met his wife, Noreen. They were married on July 9, 1966. From 1966 until his retirement in 1998 he was a teacher of French at Shaker H.S. He also taught he taught Americanization and English as a Second Language classes at night in Schenectady from 1962 until 1971.

Over his 37 years as a teacher, he taught students from grades 5th to 12th. He remained interested in American history and especially the American Civil War, having visited numerous battle fields with his wife. He was a former Trustee of The Friends of the Ulysses S. Cottage, Wilton, N.Y., where he gave tours of the Cottage. Bill was also interested in genealogy and was the family historian.

He was a long-time member of the Capital District Civil War Round Table and of the Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club. He was also a member of the NY State Teachers Retirement System.

Bill dearly loved his wife Noreen and family. He made them the priority of his life and spent as much time with them as possible.

Funeral Service, Friday, 10 a.m., at the Daly Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday 4 to 7 p.m. Interment St Paul's Cemetery, Mechanicsville.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made to the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.