William H McDonough

Bill was born Dec. 6, 1930 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents William and Mary McDonough. Upon graduating from Dedham High School, he went on to receive a bachelor's degree from Colby College. He would then serve as a Private in the Signal Corps of the United States Army.

After the Army Bill worked for Bell Telephone Company where he met his "Irish Rose" Claire Conroy. Bill and Claire would marry in 1970 and together they would welcome three sons, William, David and Thomas, and a foster son David James.

In 1982 they purchased The Village Cove Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine. An active community member, Bill joined the Kennebunkport Business Association, the Kennebunkport Chamber of Commerce, and became President of the Maine Innkeepers Association. He is credited for helping guide the success of Christmas Prelude in its early days. As innkeepers Bill and Claire not only charmed tourists, they developed relationships with White House Communications personnel and were privileged to attend President George H.W. Bush’s inaugural ball in 1989.

In 1993 Claire passed away after a brief battle with cancer. Years later Bill would reconnect with college sweetheart Ann Eilertson York and they married in 1999. Bill and Ann lived in Kennebunkport, Cape Elizabeth and then Venice, Florida until her passing in 2021. In 2023 Bill returned to Kennebunk to be closer to his family.

Bill was an avid sports fan and was a season ticket holder of Boston College football for more than 50 years, regularly traveling during retirement to attend their games and cheer for the Eagles. Bill loved playing golf, spending time with friends and family, traveling and enjoyed painting in his later years.

In addition to his wives Claire and Ann, he is preceded in death by his sister Janet Anderson.

He is survived by his brother James McDonough and his sister Rosemary Abele.

Survivors also include his children William McDonough III (Maurine); David McDonough (Katy); Thomas McDonough (Kerin); Jamey Heiss; stepchildren Thomas York (Jennifer); Louda York; Linda Chance (John); and William York; as well as several grandchildren: Cameron and Peter McDonough; Autumn McDonough; Lucas, Justin and Natalie York; Abigail (Israel), Olivia, and Graham Chance; Raeanna Moomaw and great-grandchildren Nicola and Filomena Chance Buffardi, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life to be held this summer.