William Vincent

August 9, 1937 - February 22, 2019

It was first said, I believe, by Frank Morgan, that “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” This could not be more true in the case of my dad, William Clifford Vincent, 81, of Middleport, NY who entered into rest at home om February, 22nd, 2019.

Born on August 9th, 1937 in Vancouver, Canada to Army Brigadier General and NATO Officer, Gordon Vincent and wife Dorothy (Redding) Vincent, Bill’s upbringing steered him toward college and then into the Canadian Royal Navy. After years traveling abroad, he then pursued a career in music as a gifted session guitarist and singer in the 50’s and 60’s, meeting and playing alongside of industry greats, such as Jimi Hendrix at Electric Lady Land Studios in NYC and featured player on the original classic, “The Locomotion” by Little Eva. From NY to Detroit to LA, he lived the life of a troubadour, making little money, sleeping on various floors and relishing every moment!

After a brief and uneventful first marriage, his second marriage to my mother, Paula (Corrallo) made him a parent. With a new family to provide for, Bill left LA session work and settled for some time in Lockport, NY in 1970 garnering himself a “real job” at General Motors’ Harrison Radiator Division (where he eventually retired in 1997). Forever the consummate musician, he continued to play in local groups and teach guitar to future WNY greats, Such as Dave Stoll of “The Stoll Brothers” fame.

It was at Harrison’s (after a second child, subsequent divorce and brief marriage/divorce to Bonnie) where he, at long last, had found his soulmate, Linda L. (nee Jakabowski), Vincent who’s unyielding devotion and love nurtured Bill through his difficult last few years of failing health. They were married on June, 18th, 1990 in Barker, NY and settled in Middleport, NY where they have resided for 30 years in his beloved log cabin.

As an avid outdoorsman, he spent his retirement hunting, fishing, making lures, wine and music, traveling and enjoying his family and loving Linda’s children and grandchildren as much as he loved his own. He overcame many health-related obstacles over the past decade or so, surviving multiple bouts of skin cancer, heart attacks, dual hip replacements and fatigue brought on by a combination of a quarter century of hard work and a lifetime of hard livin’, none of which dampened his spirit quick sense of humor and lust for life. His last few years were spent loving his partner and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren whenever time and circumstance would allow.

He passed from this life to join his beloved father and mother as a Christian, realizing that he was valued, appreciated and loved without measure by the people he had bestowed his wisdom and his devotion upon. We, his family and friends, will carry his love with us wherever we go and empart his lust for life to all we encounter, cementing his legacy as a man who lived life on his own terms, never apologizing for a life well lived.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Linda L. Vincent, His children, Peter (Kelly) Vincent and Andrea (Brian) Aldrich, Dawn (Joe) Fonzi, Shelly Sherman, his grandchildren, Devan Mathews, Taylor and Alexandra Vogt, Raymond and Samantha Aldrich, Ryan (Kate) and Morgan Fonzi, Isaac and Malcolm Zachary, and his great grandchildren, Gavin, Scylla and Layne.

Family and friends are invited to attend visitation at the Sherrie-Bream Funeral Home, 4521 Main Street on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. A memorial service will be held from the funeral home on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers memorials appreciated to Niagara Hospice. Please go to www.sherriebreamfuneralhome.com and leave a condolence for the family.

Written by Peter G. Vincent