CLAYTON, NY — William B. (Bill) LaLonde, 69, of the Villages, FL, originally from Clayton, NY, passed away on April 21, 2019.
Born Dec. 11, 1949, at Mercy Hospital in Watertown, NY, to Bruce and
Dorothy (Powers) LaLonde, Bill was a 1967 graduate of Clayton Central High School and went on and attended Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY.
In 1969, Bill enlisted in the US Navy and attended the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, CA for one year. After his training, he was assigned to the Aleutian Islands as a Russian interpreter.
He married Joan Hurley in 1975, but they later divorced.
Bill began working for the Social Security Administration in 1976. In his career, he worked in several locations in New York State and lastly in Falls Church, VA, as a paralegal specialist and analyst. Upon his retirement in 2004, Bill then moved to the Villages, FL, with his companion, Carol Waite.
Bill was very sports minded and enjoyed playing golf, tennis, softball and shooting pool. He was an exceptional golfer playing courses throughout the world and scored five holes-in-one during his lifetime.
He had a passion for music and would trade tapes and CD’s with friends. He enjoyed going to concerts.
Bill had a knack for being able to talk and become friends with anyone. He would proudly carry around a jar of his family’s namesake, Thousand Islands Dressing, that his great Aunt Sophia LaLonde had made, and tell the history of it to whomever would listen.
Throughout Bill’s life, many friends stood the test of time. He will be greatly missed. In the words of his favorite artist, Van Morrison, “Once in a blue moon someone like you comes along.”
Proud to be a Clayton native, Bill was a 45 year member of the Clayton American Legion Post 821.
Bill had a great love for his family and very proud to be a grandpa.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Christine (Russ) Cooper, of Ridgefield, CT ,and his
grandchildren Oliver and Lucy. A mother Dorothy LaLonde, Samaritan Summit Village, Watertown, NY; a sister, Mary (Ken) Bryant of Henderson, NY and their children, Christian (Samantha) Bryant of Halethorpe, MD; Shawn Bryant of Sandy Pond, NY; and Nichole Bryant of Charleston, SC. A brother, Joseph LaLonde, and his daughter, Stefanie, both of Ruskin, FL. He is also survived by an aunt, Linda LaLonde, and several close cousins.
Bill was predeceased by his father, Bruce LaLonde and sister-in-law, Diane LaLonde.
A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, in St. Mary’ s cemetery, Clayton, NY.
Donations can be made to: American Legion, 518 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY Attn: John Flynn or Save the River, 409 Riverside Drive, Clayton, NY.
