William J. Kayatta, Sr.

FALMOUTH - William J. Kayatta, Sr., age 88, was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His father was a Syrian immigrant who spoke many languages, but little English, when he arrived in this country. His mother was the daughter of a German-American doctor. Bill served in the United States Navy during World War II, and as Navy Corpsman attached to the Fleet Marine Force during the Korean Conflict. A graduate of Providences Classical High, he attended Providence College and the University of Rhode Island, from which he received a degree in pharmacy. With his wife, Eleanor, he moved his young family to Portland in 1957, and then to Sawyer Street in South Portland in 1959. He and Eleanor remained there until failing health gradually moved them in recent years to their final abode at Sedgewood Commons in Falmouth, where Eleanor passed away two years ago. Like many of his generation, Bill sacrificed much for his family. He drove 50,000 miles per year as a pharmaceutical salesman, turned down promotions, and eventually switched jobs, all to avoid uprooting his well-settled family from their happy home in South Portland. He loved the horse races, played tournament bridge, kept up with his wife on the dance floor, and took up tennis in his late 40s. Never deterred by a lack of familiarity with the subject matter, he was a constant, life-long source of advice for his wife, children and grandchildren. He loved meeting new people (So what type of name is that?), had a strong sense of right and wrong (refusing his largest customers request to join a club that was unduly exclusive), and never stopped enjoying kidding and playful banter even as words and memories retreated beyond his grasp in his last year. Bills brothers Francis and Paul died previously. He is survived by sisters-in-law Mary Kayatta of Jamestown, Rhode Island and Maureen Johnson of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; son William J. Kayatta, Jr. and his wife Anne Swift-Kayatta, of Cape Elizabeth, daughter Jo-Ann Kayatta of Portland, son David F. Kayatta and his wife Renee, of Claremont, California, daughter Roberta Kayatta and her husband Brody Koopmans of McKinney, Texas, daughter Karen Kayatta Burke and her husband Jay, of Gray; grandchildren Jennifer, Megan, Christopher and Bryan Arich, Katherine and Elizabeth Kayatta, Taylor, Michael, Alexandra, Kristina and Hailey Kayatta, Kendall Kayatta Black, John and Kevin Burke; and great-grandsons Dylan, Henry and Torsten. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Sedgewood Commons for the affection and care they gave to Bill, The Mayor of Sedgewood Commons. Visiting Hours will be from 4-7PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A private family service will follow later in the year. Online condolences may be expressed at www.ctcrawford.com. In lieu of flowers, gifts to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation in memory of his wife Eleanor will be welcomed and appreciated.