William (Bill) Walter Mahon

William Walter (Bill) Mahon born 6/10/26 in Claverack, NY, a resident of Murrells Inlet, SC for over 25 years, passed away on 7/7/19 at the age of 93.  The last of the original Mahon clan he is predeceased by his father, William McKinley Mahon, mother Ellen Veronica Godfrey, brother John James Mahon, and sister Mary Mahon Mazzacano.

He grew up near Hudson, NY attending Roeliff Jansen Schools in Hillsdale, NY.  He was student body president and played on championship teams in football, basketball and baseball. He was selected by the NY Giants baseball team for a contract as a shortstop, but an injury cut his baseball career short.

Bill then attended college at SUNY Cortland where he earned his Bachelors’s degree in Physical Education and his Master’s degree in Physiology.  He then pursued his Doctoral degree in Physiology at Springfield College in Massachusetts.  He was extremely proud of his selection to the Cortland Hall of Fame in 2003, which honored his college achievements and recognized a long professional career in physical education, innovation and community involvement.

William Mahon married Patricia Lynch of Amenia , NY in 1953.  She succumbed to cancer in 1984.  They had four children: Mary Mahon-Foley (husband Patrick) of New Mexico, Scott (wife Sharon) of South Carolina, Terry Dion (husband Mark) of New York, and Deirdre Mahon of North Carolina.  He had six grandchildren, Kyra, Liam, Aiden, Morgan, Conor and Olivia. The family was raised on Long Island, NY.  After Pat’s death, Bill met Shirley Burton and they moved to South Carolina where they married and moved  into Wachesaw Plantation in Murrel’s Inlet, South Carolina.  After they divorced, Bill shared a 14 year relationship with Gail McClellan until her passing in 2014.

Bill started his career in Phys. Ed. At the Wassaic State School in Dover, NY, teaching exceptional and special needs children. He and Pat moved to Easton, Maryland where the both were educators and he coached several sports to state finals.  They later moved to Garden City then Centerport, before settling their family in Eaton’s Neck in Northport, NY.  Bill worked in the Harborfields School District for 9 years as teacher, coach and administrator.  He completed his career in the Bay Shore School District as Director of Health, Phys. Ed. and Recreation and retired after 18 years of service there.

As a member of Kiwanis for 28 years, Bill served as President of 2 clubs.  Among his many awards and accolades, Bill received a Humanitarian award for his work with exceptional children, was recognized by the NYS Legislature for outstanding service to the schools of Suffolk County, by the Council of School Administrators for exceptional leadership and was Jaycees Man of the Year in Easton, MD.  He was also President of the Suffolk Zone in AAHPER.

Bill was the consummate sports fan and played professional soccer in NY and MD, semi-pro baseball in CT and NY, as well as basketball leagues in Queens and on LI.  He was a coach both as an educator as well as in his community as Little League, soccer, Boy’s Senior League baseball and Girl’s under 19 soccer, leading many teams to championships.

Bill also enjoyed boating, fishing and golfing, boasting a 7 handicap in the latter.  In SC, he organized many golf tourneys for the US Marines and others, served on the golf club’s board of directors and as landscape chair, and Equestrian Center chair.  He worked directly with the Property Owner’s  Association as newsletter writer, served on the architectural review board and as chairman of the Live Oaks Committee.

In recent years, Bill became an avid landscaper, not only of his own property but for many others in his community as well.  He also became a wildlife rescuer, and conservationist caring for injured swans and geese and monitoring the local waterways.  He became a favorite customer at his local TGI Friday’s restaurant, making the rounds to greet all the customers and getting to know all the staff by name. He always lived his life to the fullest and will be sorely missed by family, friends, and wildlife.

A celebration of his 93 years of life will be held at Burroughs Funeral Home, 3558 Old Kings Hwy, Murrells Inlet, SC on July 12, 2019 beginning at 6:30pm.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Bill's name to the Ark Animal Hospital, 1011 6th Ave N, Surfside Beach, SC 29575.

Internment will follow at the family plot in Hudson, NY in a few weeks.

Condolences may be made at www.burroughsfh.com

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