William H. Dillon

Bill Dillon, former Reading and Gloucester resident, passed away August 22, 2024 at the age of 85. He was the beloved husband of Marilyn for nearly 64 years, brother of Phil Dillon (Nancy) of Kansas City, father of Robin Ardito (Frank) of Boston, Karen Dillon Perez (Richard) of Brookline, and Bill (Laura) of Lynnfield, grandfather of Annie (Sergio), Molly, Rebecca, Emma, and Olivia, father-figure to many (including Donna Belanger Bowie), numerous nephews and nieces, and friend to countless others. Bill was predeceased by his sister Rosemary Dillon Foote.

What Bill accomplished in his life is remarkable considering the difficult circumstances of his early life. The son of William and Susan (Park) Dillon, Bill was born and raised in humble conditions in inner city Boston and Cambridge. After the early death of his father, he and his two siblings were sent to live in Prendergast Preventorium in Mattapan, an outdoor, year-round (including a New England winter!) “school” for children who had been exposed to tuberculosis. After Prendergast, his mother struggled to provide stability for her children, frequently moving the children to be closer to family and friends who helped support them. Eventually, he was selected to attend Farm & Trade School on Thompson Island in Boston Harbor. The school had been established by a group of Boston philanthropists to create a home and school for at-risk boys (principally orphans or boys with single parents). So, while he was within eyesight of the Boston skyline, he was being instructed in agriculture, carpentry, and “other useful occupations”. No one expected the boys educated at Farm & Trade to aspire to more than that (students “graduated” in 10th grade), but Bill was an excellent student and athlete, and he was able to chart a path that led to Huntington Prep and then to a B.S. in chemical engineering and later an MBA at Northeastern University. Bill chose to celebrate his 70th birthday with his family on Thompson Island, a reminder of how far he’d come.

Before embarking on his career as an engineer, he served in active duty as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, where he earned the nickname “Can Do Dillon” for his positive attitude and optimism, which, in turn, became a lifelong Dillon family motto. After the Army, he spent the majority of his career as a manager at Polaroid where he was known as a creative and compassionate leader and ultimately rose to the position of Plant Manager of the Waltham facility. Bill remained friends with some of his Polaroid colleagues for his whole life.

Bill was a man who exuded a love of life. While navigating a demanding job, he still prioritized being an “all in” family man, leaving for work every morning in his red Volkswagen Beetle with a cup of Sanka in hand before any of his children were awake so that he could be sure to be home in time for family dinner, which he never missed. He made time for an endless array of family activities–camping, hiking, teaching each of his children (and later grandchildren) to ski, Red Sox games, boating and lobstering, group runs and bikes. He encouraged and shared the passions of his children and grandchildren, creating unique adventures for each one and encouraging each of them to “live your dreams”. He and Marilyn made sure their home in Gloucester was always a welcoming sanctuary for both family and friends. He once spent a summer working all hours of the day to grow giant pumpkins for his grandchildren to carve on Halloween. He installed a koi pond in his yard when one of his grandchildren mentioned an interest in koi fish. He would sit side by side with grandchildren for hours doing art projects with them. His extended family’s homes are filled with handmade chess boards, desks, chests and other wood-working projects that he lovingly made for them over the years.

In his later years, Bill explored new passions, making countless friends along the way and inspiring others. He hiked the entire Appalachian Trail under the trail name “the Gloucester Hare” with one of his friends from Polaroid. He and Marilyn traveled extensively, eventually visiting every continent and “seizing the day” on each adventure, including dancing the tango with Marilyn in Buenos Aires, donning swim trunks for a dip in the ocean near Antarctica and climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge. He fulfilled “bucket list” goals and new challenges, including skydiving, running three marathons, becoming a certified EMT, a Family Court mediator, an elder care ombudsman, and one of his happiest moments – attending the Superbowl with his younger brother, Phil. Having craved an artistic outlet for his entire life, he finally uncovered his artistic talent as he taught himself woodcarving and joined the Cape Ann Wood Artisans Guild. Specializing in carving and painting birds, he earned several awards and a professional commission as a carver. Many family members and friends prize the carvings he made for them.

In Brooksby Village, where he lived with Marilyn for the last ten years of his life, he became a valued member of the community, known to all as a kind man and a good friend. He created the men’s coffee club, became known for his stunning morning glory garden, and started the Brooksby’s Parkinson’s support group, which was the source of great comfort to other residents and their families affected by the disease. He also nurtured a latent love of writing poetry, publishing many original poems in the Brooksby newspaper.

Bill will be remembered for his optimism, strength, kindness, and most of all, how much he loved – and was loved by – his family. It’s impossible to summarize Bill’s life in a few words. Perhaps it can be best expressed this way: he was a good man. His was, by any measure, a life well lived.

The family will be holding a private service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Bill’s honor to the Appalachian Mountain Club at https://www.outdoors.org/donate/tribute-gifts/ , the Michael J. Fox Foundation at https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686/#!/donation/checkout, or the Brooksby Village Resident Care Fund, 100 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody, MA 01960. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers. Guestbook available at www.LyonsFuneral.com.