William L McGaw Jr

I am sorry to report of the passing of William L. McGaw Jr., age 100, of Glastonbury CT, on March 4, 2019. Bill was born in McKeesport, PA. His parents were William L. McGaw Sr. and Alice McGaw (Baldesberger). He is survived by his sister, Dr. Genevieve M. Cahoon of Redmond, Washington. Bill was predeceased by his wife Ruth McGaw (Johnson) in 2008. They were married 59 years. He also leaves his daughter Nancy McGaw of Glastonbury, CT and his son Bill III and Bill’s wife Linda McGaw (Danby) of Marlborough, CT. He leaves his grandson Joshua McGaw of Meriden and his wife Sarah. Five great-grandchildren Christiana McGaw, Gabriel McGaw, Alexander McGaw, Victoria McGaw and Valerie McGaw and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Bill also leaves his dear friend Pat Oechsler. He is predeceased by his grandson Jamie McGaw.

Bill was a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, PA. He also holds an MBA from RPI in Hartford, CT. Bill served one month in the citizen’s military training corps in 1935 in Fort Mead, MD. He also served two years in ROTC at Carnegie Tech 1936–1937.

Bill worked as a mechanical engineer for 35 years at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, Connecticut, and later at Turbo Power and Marine in Farmington, CT. He worked for the Bendix Corporation for five years. Bill also worked for the State of CT, in their Energy Audit Department, for 10 years. After retirement he taught the AARP 55 alive driving course for 15 years.

Bill was always busy in the community and church activities. He was an Eagle Scout and he became commissioner of the Boy Scouts for the Charter Oak District in Hartford when he first came to work at Pratt and Whitney.

Bill was active in politics and he was a member of the Town Planning and Zoning Commission. In the late 80s, he was a member of the Glastonbury Board of Education and was later elected Chairman of the Board. He was a member and later Chairman of the Commission on Ageing. He worked very hard to get the Riverfront Community Center built. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Glastonbury Democratic Town Committee on October 5, 2007.

Bill was an active communicant of St. Augustine Church. He was president of the Men’s Club and taught Sunday school. He also was choir director and later served as a lector. He was awarded the Archbishop’s Medal for his work in the parish on March 6, 2005.

Bill enjoyed playing golf and spent many wonderful summer vacations at Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire and Lake Maidstone in Vermont. He also hit a hole-in-one at Lake Morey in Vermont. He especially enjoyed a golfing trip to Ireland with his wife Ruth. Bill also enjoyed reading military history and was quite an authority regarding the battle of Gettysburg.

He was very generous and gave to many charities. He set up an Endowed Fellowship in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon for graduate engineering students in memory of his parents. He was featured in an advertisement for alumni giving in the fall 2018 issue of Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon.

Bill enjoyed watching the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Steelers and UCONN Huskies. Bill also helped continue organizing a luncheon that was held once a month at The Gallery for retired Pratt and Whitney test engineers. He enjoyed this luncheon very much and organized it for about 15 years.

Bill led a very full life and his family and friends will miss his kindness, generosity and humor.

Calling hours for Bill will be held Friday March 15, 2019 from 3:00PM- 7:00PM at the Glastonbury Funeral Home 450 New London Tpke. Glastonbury, CT. Services will be held Saturday 10:00AM at St. Augustine’s Church, 55 Hopewell Rd. South Glastonbury, CT. Burial to follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery 1318 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury, CT. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bill’s memory to Carnegie Mellon University, for William McGaw and Alice McGaw Endowed Fellowship in Mechanical Engineering P.O. Box 371525. Pittsburgh, PA 15251-7525. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit www.Glastonburyfuneral.com