Bill passed away peacefully the morning of March 1, 2007 in Palo Alto, CA. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota on July 10, 1924 to George and Dolly Macaskill. He is survived by his wife of thirty-nine years, Lois Macaskill. He leaves behind children Patricia Clavio (Michael) of Jacksonville, FL, Mary Cannon (Tom) of Reno, NV, David Macaskill (Sally) of Reno, NV, Anne Reale (Basil) of Santa Clarita, CA and William T. Macaskill (predeceased). Stepfather of Pam Windle of Orinda, CA , Jane Zuercher (Mark) of Orinda, CA, Shauna Lynch (Scott) of Gilroy, CA and Caroline Pixley of Hollister, CA. Grandfather of Cindy Lee (Trevor), Michael Clavio (Jessica), Gabriel Cannon (Sandra) and Mateo Reale. Step-grandfather of Katie Windle, Sara Windle, Benjamin Zuercher, Hayley Zuercher, Nathan Lynch and Abbey Lynch. He was great-grandfather to Mikhaela, Kira, Larissa, Kirsten, Trevor, Thomas and Tegan.
Bill grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, where he often spent summers with his family at a nearby lake and enjoyed the sport of ski jumping in the winter. He played the cornet and was honored to play with the Minneapolis Symphony while in high school. An Eagle Scout, he graduated from Central High School in 1942. Bill joined the U.S. Marines as a paratrooper and at age nineteen was awarded a Purple Heart following the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, Loyola University and the University of Chicago. Upon receiving his B.S. in Philosophy and his M.S. in Library Science, Bill began his long career at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, as chief librarian and professor. Following his years at St. Mary’s, he became Director of Monte Villa Hospital in Morgan Hill in 1973, where he was affectionately known as “Mac.” He was active in the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill and was co-founder of RotaCare Bay Area, which provides free medical care for migrant workers and others. In addition, he was a volunteer for Suicide Prevention and the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCADD). He enjoyed forty-eight years of continuous sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, sponsoring and inspiring numerous people in their recovery. He received several awards, among them Morgan Hill Man of the Year in 1994.
As an outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting pheasant, duck and deer, and was a champion target shooter. He was very fond of his German Shorthair and Black Labrador hunting dogs. Having lived in the Gilroy countryside for the last thirty-four years, he enjoyed his horses and the trails of South County on horseback. He raised chickens, rabbits, sheep, peafowl, pheasants, ducks and geese and enjoyed many aspects of country living. His pride and joy was his workshop, where he spent many hours tinkering and repairing. Bill was an avid reader, military historian, public speaker, classical music aficionado and garlic lover! He frequented the Gilroy Senior Center, the Gilroy Library and regularly attended St. Mary Church in Gilroy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to RotaCare Bay Area, P.O. Box 187, Gilroy, CA 95021-0187. Services will be held Monday, March 12 at 10:30 A.M. at Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 Fourth St., Gilroy.
