William Lalli, 67

LEE, Mass. — William R. Lalli, 67, passed away suddenly at his home in Lee on Sept. 12, 2020. He leaves behind his devoted wife Geraldine and many lifelong friends.

He was born in Hinsdale, Ill. to Vincent and Ruth Lally and grew up in New Jersey. He was a proud alum of the University of Dayton, and shortly after graduation, he began a distinguished career with the U.S. Postal Service, beginning as a carrier and ending as a Government Regulations Specialist in Washington D.C. In this capacity, among other duties, he evaluated Congressional requests for new postal stamps.

After retiring from the United States Postal Service, Mr. Lalli chose to dedicate himself to serving others through working with the Peace Corps in the Philippines. Among his favorite assignments was being at an orphanage in Tacloban, where he loved to spend his spare time taking the children on outings and sharing his generosity with them. It was during this time that he found the love of his life, Geraldine, whom he later married.

Bill and Geraldine lived for a short time in New Jersey, then decided to make their home in the Berkshires, although Bill longed to go back and visit the orphanage, a dream he did not have time to fulfill.

His family and friends remember Bill as a cultured, kind, and principled man, who was a fiercely loyal Democrat, staunch environmentalist, and avid history buff. In his younger years, he was a runner, and stayed active with hiking and dancing; he loved music, the theater, exploring museums, and reading. Bill also enjoyed traveling, especially to Italy, where he connected with his ancestral town of Bonefro; he so valued his Italian heritage that he changed his surname back to the original Italian spelling.

Bill's memory will be cherished by friends all over the country and the world; when they think of him, they hear him laughing and making others laugh. He lived many lifetimes in his 67 years.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his cousins Jack, James, and Mary, and by his dear friends Larry and Paula Giordano and Rick and Jeryl Lemon.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence or share pictures with the family, please visit www.kellyfuneralhome.net