William F. Dexter

1949 - 2023

Dexter, William F.
WEST SAND LAKE - On February 23, 2023, trumpeter, musician, husband and father, William F. Dexter passed away in the arms of his loving wife and son.
Bill was born in Quincy, Mass. on January 23, 1949, and a year later was adopted by Warren and Helen Dexter of North Easton, Mass. He spent his youth in North Easton graduating from Oliver Ames High School in 1967. As an OA Tiger, he played basketball and excelled as a trumpet player in the marching band and orchestra. He began his musical studies at the age of six under Lawrence "Pop" Gurney and later under Andre' Come', the first chair with the Boston Pops. Bill achieved notoriety as a soloist with many Boston area orchestras including the Greater Boston Youth Symphony, the Whitman Orchestra, the Plymouth Philharmonic, and the Brockton Symphony. After several years at the New England Conservatory, Bill traveled to Rochester, New York and New York City where he performed as a free-lance and club musician playing and singing all types of music from classical to Dixieland, Latin, jazz, and standards. He performed classically as first trumpet with the New
Amsterdam Orchestra and later as a cabaret performer at Greenwich Village clubs such as The Duplex and Don't Tell Mama.
For the past 35 years, Bill has lived in the Albany area where he performed with his own quartet and as a freelance musician with big bands, jazz groups and as a soloist and performer at various clubs, restaurants and theatre groups. Bill's hobbies included building and flying radio-control aircraft with his son. Bill was a 50-year member of Musicians Local 802 and 30-year member of Local 14. He was a 25-year member of the Lazy 8 Radio Control Club of Johnstown, serving the last six years as president.
He was predeceased by his parents and his in-laws, Edward and Ma.Pilar Gemeinhardt of Averill Park. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Ma.Pilar Gemeinhardt Dexter of West Sand Lake; and his pride, joy and best friend, his son, United States Air Force 2nd Lt. Adam W. Dexter (Andrea Rose) of Ashburn, Va. He also leaves his sisters-in-law, Olga (Paul) Ashline, and Esperanza (Thomas) DiStefano; several nieces and nephews; and his cousins, Kathern, Arthur, Jack and Valerie Garrett of Prince Edward Island, Canada and Susan Salley of Taunton, Mass. He will be missed by his biggest fans, the OAHS Class of 1967, his many friends at the Lazy 8 Club and his neighbors. We will all miss his smile, his
humor, and his steadfast confidence and loyalty.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Richard Orsi, Dr. John Kopp, and Dr. Joseph Dudek and the staff of NYOH and Community Hospice for their compassionate care.
While visiting with family, a musical celebration of Bill's life will be held at the Salem United Methodist Church, 349 Shaver Rd., West Sand Lake, throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11. There will also be a service of remembrance from 12-12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Interment will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in West Sand Lake.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to one of the following charities in Bill's name: TEMPO (The Easton Music Parent Organization), c/o Oliver Ames High School, 100 Lothrup St., North Easton, MA, 02356, or The Lazy 8 Radio Control Club Scholarship, 6 Heather Lane, Gloversville, NY, 12078, or Sand Lake Ambulance, 3643 NY 43, Sand Lake, NY, 12153.
To sign the guestbook, light a candle or for service directions, visit brycefh.com.