William J. Fennell

02/21/2007

William J. Fennell, 76, of 1581 Hartsville-New Marlboro Road, died yesterday at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in Boston on March 23, 1930, son of Patrick J. and Margaret Sheehan Fennell, he attended schools in Cambridge and was a 1948 graduate of Cambridge Latin High School. He attended Boston College and graduated from Boston University in 1961. He received his master's from the University of Illinois in 1967. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Fennell was employed by Searles Middle School as a math teacher, retiring in 1991. From 1961 to 1967, he taught business at Mount Everett Regional School. He was also a maitre'd at the Barrington Brewery in Great Barrington. He had been a communicant of Our Lady of the Valley Church since 1961 and was a member of Mount Everett Council 513 Knights of Columbus, the Massachusetts Retired Teachers Association and the New Marlborough Conservation Committee, and chairman of the New Marlborough Democratic Committee. He enjoyed gardening. He and his wife, the former Mildred H. Thibeault, were married April 14, 1956, in Medford. She died Dec. 31, 2003. He leaves three sons, Patrick J. Fennell of Great Barrington, William J. Fennell of Acton and Stephen G. Fennell of Niantic, Conn.; four daughters, Joan M. Stillman of New Marlborough, Mary H. Iandoli of Bedford, Carol A. Stec of Braintree and Alice Naylor of Sheffield; and 12 grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Liturgy of Christian Burial for William J. Fennell, who died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, will be celebrated Saturday, Feb. 24, at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Sheffield by the Reverend John Lis, pastor. The family will receive friends tomorrow from 5 to 8 p.m. at BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME. The unofficial mayor of New Marlborough, he was known in the community for his eccentric style of dress and for his nickname, "Mr. Bowtie." He also leaves 12 grandchildren, Kristina DiPietrantonio, Colleen Stillman, Danielle and James Iandoli, Samuel, Gavin, Anna and Ally Fennell, Ignatius and Noah Stec, and Ava and Genevieve Naylor, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, John E. and William E. Fennell, and by three sisters, Mary Kelly, Ruth Williams and Margaret Ryan. Expressions of sympathy in William's memory may be made to the New Marlborough Fire Department or to HospiceCare in the Berkshires, in care of the funeral home, 33 South St., Great Barrington, MA 01230.

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