In 1942 his college career was interrupted when he joined a top-secret camouflage unit of the US Army, (23rd HQ Special Troops). This unit is the subject of the documentary film: “The Ghost Army” by Rick Beyer, and the book “The Ghost Army of WWII” by Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles.
After the war he was a commercial illustrator, working for clients such as Ford and Western Publishing, and in 1949 he married Shirley Leah Weinstein of Boston.
In the 1970s William and Shirley collaborated on the wildly popular Step-By-Step Craft book series, which gave them the opportunity to travel to China, Japan and Mexico. William spent his later years painting in his studio and was very involved with the Edward Hopper House in Nyack, NY, and the Rockland Center for the Arts.
His wife, his brothers Paul Sayles and Seymour Sayles; and sister, Ann Swyer predecease him. He is survived by his children, Michael Sayles, of Brooklyn, NY, and Elizabeth Sayles Dow, of Valley Cottage, NY; his beloved grandchildren, Jessica Dow and Daniel Stein-Sayles; his son-in-law, Matthew Dow and daughter-in-law, Deborah Stein.
Graveside Services will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2018, 12:00 PM, at Temple Israel Memorial Park, Van Wyck Road, at Blauvelt Road, Blauvelt, NY. Interment will follow at the family plot. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, New York. 845.356.8600
A period of mourning will be observed at the Sayles’ residence: Saturday, November 3, noon to 8pm, and after the burial on Sunday, November 4, until 8pm. [email protected]
The family would appreciate donations be made in William Sayles’ memory to:
Ghost Army Legacy Project http://www.ghostarmylegacyproject.org/
Meals on Wheels of Rockland https://www.mowrockland.org/in_memory.html
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