BANGOR – William George “Bill” Fletcher, 88, passed away June 29, 2019. He was born December 15, 1930, in Milo, the son of George H. and Ruth (Williams) Fletcher.
Bill graduated from Milo High School, Class of 1948. Following high school, he graduated from Springfield College, Class of 1952, earning a B.S. in Physical Education. Bill earned a M.Ed. and C.A.S. in School Administration from the University of Maine, Orono.
Bill began his career as a Physical Education and Biology teacher at Mattanawcook Academy, where he also coached Basketball, Football, and Baseball. Coach Fletcher’s team won the first Eastern Maine Class L Basketball Championship played in the old Bangor Auditorium in 1956. He continued his career as a school and athletic administrator at Falmouth High School, Penobscot Valley High School, Dexter High School, and finished his career at Brewer High School. Bill was the director of the Eastern Maine Basketball Tournament for 26 years, beginning in 1986. He was named Maine Athletic Director of the Year in 1988. Bill was the recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Association Distinguished Service Award in 1996. In addition, he was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends’ Hall of Honors in October of 2011, was a Maine Principals’ Association Hall of Excellence Honoree and was inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, both in 2018.
Bill was an avid golfer, generous gardener and Foreman of the Fletcher Paint Crew. In his retirement, Bill and Arlene enjoyed spending time on Amelia Island, Florida, and St. Andrews, New Brunswick. He was known for his quick wit, storytelling ability and a fondness for nicknames.
In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by a son, John; two brothers, Carl and Carroll; and a sister, Priscilla Ireland. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Arlene; children, James Fletcher and wife, Nancy, Michael Fletcher and wife, Barbara, Susan Driscoll and husband, Thomas, Michael Edwards and wife, Lori, and Charles Edwards and wife, Cathy; grandchildren, Jodi, Andrea, Bill, Joseph, Kate, Anne, Daniel, Chris, Jeremy, Trisha, Tim, Caitlin, Benjamin, Ian and Caitlin; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Irvin “Baldy”; a sister, Pauline; and several nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m., Friday, July 5, 2019, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor. Private interment will be in Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. Relatives and friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the parish hall immediately following the Mass. Those wishing to remember Bill in a special way may make gifts in his memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
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Bill graduated from Milo High School, Class of 1948. Following high school, he graduated from Springfield College, Class of 1952, earning a B.S. in Physical Education. Bill earned a M.Ed. and C.A.S. in School Administration from the University of Maine, Orono.
Bill began his career as a Physical Education and Biology teacher at Mattanawcook Academy, where he also coached Basketball, Football, and Baseball. Coach Fletcher’s team won the first Eastern Maine Class L Basketball Championship played in the old Bangor Auditorium in 1956. He continued his career as a school and athletic administrator at Falmouth High School, Penobscot Valley High School, Dexter High School, and finished his career at Brewer High School. Bill was the director of the Eastern Maine Basketball Tournament for 26 years, beginning in 1986. He was named Maine Athletic Director of the Year in 1988. Bill was the recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators’ Association Distinguished Service Award in 1996. In addition, he was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends’ Hall of Honors in October of 2011, was a Maine Principals’ Association Hall of Excellence Honoree and was inducted into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, both in 2018.
Bill was an avid golfer, generous gardener and Foreman of the Fletcher Paint Crew. In his retirement, Bill and Arlene enjoyed spending time on Amelia Island, Florida, and St. Andrews, New Brunswick. He was known for his quick wit, storytelling ability and a fondness for nicknames.
In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by a son, John; two brothers, Carl and Carroll; and a sister, Priscilla Ireland. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Arlene; children, James Fletcher and wife, Nancy, Michael Fletcher and wife, Barbara, Susan Driscoll and husband, Thomas, Michael Edwards and wife, Lori, and Charles Edwards and wife, Cathy; grandchildren, Jodi, Andrea, Bill, Joseph, Kate, Anne, Daniel, Chris, Jeremy, Trisha, Tim, Caitlin, Benjamin, Ian and Caitlin; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Irvin “Baldy”; a sister, Pauline; and several nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m., Friday, July 5, 2019, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 768 Ohio Street, Bangor. Private interment will be in Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. Relatives and friends are invited to share conversation and refreshments at the parish hall immediately following the Mass. Those wishing to remember Bill in a special way may make gifts in his memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com
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