1927 – 2015

RANDOLPH — William (Bill) H. Tracy, of Randolph, passed away in peace and serenity, surrounded by his loving family, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, after a brief illness. He was a tremendous educator and an example of great humor, organization, honesty, hard work and kindness and will be dearly missed by all.

Bill was born in Portland on May 29, 1927, and was raised in the town of South Paris, the son of Hugh and Cleona Tracy, along with his sister, Thoma Tracy. Following his graduation from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the latter part of World War II, serving as a Yeoman 3rd Class. Bill was extremely proud of his service to his country and actively supported veterans’ activities throughout the remainder of his life.

Upon his discharge, Bill moved to Lewiston to attend the Auburn school of commerce, where he graduated with a degree in bookkeeping.

Shortly after graduating from college, Bill met and married Melvina Barber and moved to Harmony, where he commenced his lifelong career as an educator after being hired as a bookkeeping teacher at Harmony High School. Bill and Mel raised their three children, William, Cynthia and Deborah and moved to Randolph, where he continued his education career at Gardiner Area High School, ultimately moving to South Gardiner, until Mel passed away in 1984. Many a great and humorous memory were shared in his time with Mel and these three children. Lots of impromptu and planned adventurous and recreational travel were enjoyed during this part of his life due to Bill’s love and quest to always create wonderful family times.

While in South Gardiner, Bill met and married Dorna Hinds and immediately inherited six additional children, Susan, Peter, Gwen, Katie, Kelly and Steven. After a 35-year career at Gardiner Area High School that he enjoyed immensely, Bill retired in 1988, and continued his public service by volunteering extensively with local charities, including many years as a driver for Meals on Wheels.

During his retirement, Bill and Dorna traveled throughout the United States and abroad, splitting their time between homes in Maine and Florida and gathering cherished friendships along the way. Bill never met a person he did not try to engage with in some humorous way and because of this, his list of friends was ever growing.

In his later years, in between reading every book he could get his hands on, Bill primarily focused on participating in family activities and greatly enjoyed his extensive family which had grown to include 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Ever the proud and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he often could be found visiting or watching his family participate in sporting and school events.

Bill’s sharp humor, vast vocabulary, along with his magnetic personality, naturally made him the center of attention in most gatherings. The loving and positive impact Bill had on the lives of his family, friends, colleagues, and students is a legacy that will live on long after his passing.

He is survived by his wife, Dorna Tracy; his children, William Tracy and wife, Patricia, Cynthia Sin and husband, Sonny, Deborah Sween and husband, Robert, Susan Webb, Peter Hinds and wife, Ellen, Gwen Hall and partner, Ken Parkhurst, Katie Lathe and husband, Rick, Kelly Hutchinson and husband, Richard, and Steve Hinds and wife, Rochelle; as well as his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bill was predeceased by his mother, Cleona Tracy; and father, Hugh Tracy; and his sister, Thoma Tracy.