ANN ARBOR – Bill Quasney, 90, formerly of Bloomfield Hills, died peacefully at home on November 26, 2022, surrounded by family with the Michigan versus Ohio State game playing in the background. Born in 1932 in East Chicago to Andrew Quasney and Maria Kereszturi, he attended Bishop Noll High School and received an appointment to the US Naval Academy, graduating in 1954. He met the love of his life, Marilynn Grodzicki, and shortly thereafter celebrated their nuptials in a large Polish wedding. As Marilynn and Bill set forth on their married life adventure, they moved to Tucson, Arizona where Bill attended pilot training with the Air Force. An eye injury while playing volleyball kept him from the cockpit but opened up the opportunity to become a navigator. He flew many missions over the North Atlantic. During the Vietnam War, he was picked to command the navigators in his wing. Bill kept in touch with his family (by now he and Marilynn had four boys!) by regularly writing lengthy sweet and funny letters and sending home reel-to-reel messages. When they moved to Edwards AFB, Bill became the propulsion test engineer for the YF-12/SR-71 programs during the time when the SR-71 was setting world speed records. He later became chief engineer of the program until it ended and was transferred to Logistics Command. His work was commented on in the book “Blackbird Rising: Birth of an Aviation Legend”. Bill jumped at the chance to actually fly in the SR-71 as a Reconnaissance Systems Officer and after being fitted for a pressure suit, unexpectedly had his orders changed and was sent to USAF War College in Alabama. Bill also received his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Bill was promoted to colonel and director of the F100 F-15 and F16 engine programs at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. After retiring in 1979, he worked as a Vice President at Williams International at the former Walled Lake facility, retiring in 1997. Bill and Marilynn spent their retirement between Carefree, Arizona and Bloomfield Hills, hiking, golfing, fishing in Alaska and Mahzenazing (Ontario), gardening, watching desert sunsets with a glass of wine, reading anthropology books, but mostly enjoying the visits from their children and grandchildren over the many years. He was preceded in death by his wife Marilynn in 2019 after 65 years of marriage. They attended Catholic mass regularly, at St. Owen and St. Regis, and in Arizona at Our Lady of Joy.
Bill and Marilynn had four sons Dr. Michael (Mary) Quasney, Dr. Thomas (Judy) Quasney, John Quasney and Chip (Tara) Quasney, and grandchildren Erin, Evan, Rebecca, Daniel, Ava and Genevieve, along with five great grandchildren. Bill is also preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, and his brothers Bud, John, George, Jim and his sister Nancy.
Bill said he wanted to be remembered for three simple things: being a loving husband, a loving father, and a loving grandfather. Bill’s love and dedication to his family was by far greater than any of his professional accomplishments or his extensive service to his country. He passed on a legacy of the highest standard of being there for and taking care of those he loved. He is more known to his son’s and their families as being the dad/grandparent who was in the pool swimming with the kids, making a mean daiquiri to keep the conversation lively, and doting on his wife.
Plans are being made for both Bill and Marilynn to be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to the University of Michigan Little Victors Family Endowment (Fund #798970), the American Cancer Society, or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
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