Mr. William F. Herman

William F. Herman, of 34 Elberon Ave., crossed the finish line in his longest race on Sunday, August 30, 2015 with a personal best of 91 years, 7 months and 16 days. William was known by many names, Red, Sonny, Bill and Coach. Bill cherished being a husband and father and died peacefully at home surrounded by his family. Bill was born in Providence, RI on January 14, 1924 to Margaret McMahon and William Herrmann. He grew up attending LaSalle Academy in Cranston, RI and left early to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces as an aerial gunner on B-17s during World War II. He was shot down over France in September 1943 and spent the remainder of the war as a German P.O.W. For his service, Bill was awarded a Purple Heart, European-African-MIddle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good conduct Medal, a WWII Victory Medal, and an American Theatre Ribbon, American Campaign Medal. Upon his return to the States in 1946, Bill moved to Pittsfield, MA , where he entered Berkshire Business College and earned his G.E.D. at Pittsfield High School. In 1947 he married Jeanette Archey, who predeceased him in 1968. Together they had five children. In January 1972, Bill was remarried to Kathleen McDonald with whom he had one son. Bill operated his own business, Berkshire Office Machines in PIttsfield, MA until his retirement in 1986. After retirement, Bill stayed active with flying lessons and returned to his great love of sailing in Narragansett Bay, RI. An avid runner, Bill ran in the Boston Marathon three times, the Newport Marathon four times, and the Long Island Marathon and the Holyoke Marathon with his son Billy. He was a member of the New England Pioneer Club. He continued running until his seventies when health reasons forced him to retire. His love of running was passed down to his sons and grandchildren. Bill demonstrated his love and encouragement of young people through his many years of coaching. He spent 30 years coaching basketball at the Pittsfield CYC where he was named “Coach of the Year” three times, and five years as the JV Soccer coach at St. Joseph High School and also many years as Little League Baseball coach and umpire. He was also named Volunteer of the Year at the Pittsfield CYC. Bill is survived by his wife, Kathleen; son William F. Herman IV of Dalton, MA; son Michael Herman and his wife Mary Gay of Baldwin, NY; son Patrick J. Herman of Dalton, MA; daughter Mary Wheeler and her husband William of Pittsfield; daughter Theresa Wituszynski and her husband Mark of Pittsfield, MA; son Matthew Herman and his wife Christine of Trumansburg, NY;his two stepchildren whom he loved as his own, Pastor Christopher Adorno and his wife Marjorie of Pittsfield, MA and Lisa DiMaria and her husband Richard of N. Kingstown, RI; sisters Barbara Erskine and Loretta Hill of Cranston, RI; 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Martin and Robert; sister Claire and daughter-in-law Linna Kelly Herman. Bill had a special fondness for animals, especially his dogs Sadie and Fritz. Bill’s family would especially like to thank the wonderful staff at Kimball Farms Nursing Home in Lenox, MA for their kind and loving care of Bill over the past three years and Hospice Care of the Berkshires who made it possible for his last wish of coming home to be fulfilled. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Mr. William F. Herman will be Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 9 a.m. from the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Church, celebrated by the Rev. A. Peter Gregory, pastor. Burial with full Military Honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. If friends desire, donations may be made to the St. Charles Church Improvement Fund, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, in his memory. DONATIONS CANNOT BE MADE ONLINE, but may be made through Dwyer Funeral Home.

Mr. William F. Herman

January 14, 1924 - August 30, 2015