William John Hanley

Bill was born on July 28th,1951 in Batavia New York to John "Jack" and Rose (Cesarano) Hanley. After his childhood years in Batavia, Bill spent his teens in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC. He moved with his family to Morgantown, WV, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from West Virginia University. He settled in the Orlando area, where he met Judy Kathleen Briggs, whom he married on November 27, 1998. In 2012 he retired from his career as a certified loss prevention and safety consultant for 27 years with The Hartford.

Bill will be remembered as a man with a huge personality, a unique sense of humor, and an ability to "hold court" among various groups wherever he traveled. He enjoyed an extensive network of friends at home, and he enhanced this network with new friends during the years that he was able to travel to new vacation spots. After one meeting and with few words spoken, people not only remembered who Bill was, but they looked forward to seeing him again… as if he’d been a lifelong friend.

He was an avid golfer, beginning in his teens and continuing through his entire life. Bill's passion for golf was highlighted by annual golf trips with his friends and family over decades. The annual trip Bill organized was so popular and enduring that it continues today more than 30 years later. Many of the current attendees are sons of charter members and their friends. It was inspiring to see how the young men would seek out “Uncle Bill” and stand in line for a chance to play as his partner. Thus his golf connections extended across generations and enhanced the lives of young and old alike.

Bill, a lifelong Mountaineer, enjoyed all WVU sports, but especially football. He donned all of his beloved Mountaineer gear and watched faithfully from his Florida home with friends and alumni. Whenever the opportunity arose he and Kathy would travel to Morgantown to attend a game in person, reuniting with his beloved West Virginia crowd. Morgantown was “home” to Bill no matter where his life or career took him.

Bill was preceded in death by his father Jack and his mother Rose. He is survived by his wife Kathy, her daughters Michele (Chad) Starr and Melissa Elvers, both of Orlando FL, and his brothers Kevin (Alice) Hanley of Davidsonville, MD and Dennis (Mary) Hanley of Moundsville, WV, and all of their children. Bill played a special role in the lives of his grandchildren, nieces and nephews, who loved him dearly. He will be missed by all. Plans for the celebration of his life are incomplete at this time.