William A. McLaughlin

William Addison McLaughlin, or "Bill" as he was known by family and friends, died peacefully at home after an amazingly "long run". He was born at home near Brooklyn, New York on April 18, 1908 and died peacefully at his home in Maine on September 4, 2007"Nothing lasts unless it is expressed in terms of the human spirit", NFL Films, 2007. The human spirit flourished in Bill's life.Born during the first year of production of Henry Ford's famous Model-T, Bill grew up during the rise of the machine age. He was too young for the draft in WW I and at the upper age limit for the draft during WW II. During the historic years between the two great wars he became a highly skilled craftsman. If something could be made by hand or by machine, Bill not only could make it, but do it better than most. His skills ran the gamut from hanging expensive foil wallpaper in 200 year old homes in Maine to troubleshooting the installation and operation of delicate shutter mechanisms in the nose cones of rockets about to be blasted into earth orbit.Bill was first and foremost a family man. He was a loyal son and brother, a loving husband, father, uncle and grandfather and most recently became a great grandfather for the first time.His hobbies included art, music, photography and a love for reading. His work ethic was second to none and began at the early age of 12 delivering The Saturday Evening Post. He clerked in a large bank for several years, entered the interior decorating business with his father in the roaring 1920s, graduated from a prestigious art school, Pratt Institute, in the early 1930s, and became a highly skilled machinist in the defense industry at the outbreak of WW II. During the Cold War years of the 1950s-70s, he continued to increase his skills becoming a "model maker", "instrument maker" and "tool and die maker" supporting the engineering staffs at Sperry Gyroscope, Fairchild Camera and the A&E Corporation. A highlight of his career was a surprise flight to California in the late 1960s where he was whisked off to Vandenburg Air Force Base, given a ride up the elevator of a very tall gantry tower and asked to "open the hood" on the nose cone of a rocket to repair a delicate but malfunctioning shutter of a Fairchild Camera. "The job was important. The whole purpose of this rocket launch was to place the camera into earth orbit." After reaching an arbitrary but mandatory retirement age of 65, he returned to his lifelong business of interior decorating where he worked for yet another 20 years until age 85. His lifelong motto was, "The customer always comes first." If Bill were here, he'd probably tell us that he's been loafing for the last 14 years or so, enjoying his hobbies of music, art, and photography. Not wanting to be left behind, he learned how to use a computer in the late 1990s so he could email family and friends and digitally print his favorite photos, thereby escaping the chemicals and time-consuming work of his old but trusty dark room. After putting his cello, trumpet and baritone horn away, he took up playing the saxophone about 3 or 4 years ago. After all, he'd say, "Who wants to just sit around and do nothing?" Bill is survived by his son Bill McLaughlin in Leavenworth, KS, two grand-daughters, Heather Austin and May Davis, their husbands and Bill's year old great grandson, Cooper Austin, who all live in the Kansas City area. Bill's family ties in Maine are David and Torrey Joy and their two sons Tim and Nick. And last but by no means least, his two favorite nieces, Joyce Borghard and Lynne Williams who live with their families on Long Island, NY, as well as his favorite nephew, Bill Collins, who lives in sunny California with his family. Over the years Bill attended First Methodist Church in Hollis, NY, Christ Church in Kennebunk, ME and the Alfred Parrish Church in Alfred, ME.At 99 1/2 years, Bill outlived many of his closest friends and relatives as well as three wives. He married Elizabeth Layton Cook in 1938, Vera Eileen Carpenter in 1950 and Barbara Joy in 1997. After Barbara passed away in 2005, Bill decided not to remarry for a fourth time, concerned that he might outlive her too.In July 2006, Bill was recognized as the oldest living citizen of Alfred and was the recipient of the Boston Post Cane. He was also treated to a ride in a red convertible as a Grand Marshall of the Alfred Days Parade.He lived a wonderful life characterized by a positive attitude, a decisive approach to problem solving, a flare for the arts and entertainment, an infectious good humor and a never ending interest in learning and keeping up with modern times. There will not be a local service. His remains will be interred with his first wife, Beth, at Nassau Knolls Cemetery in Port Washington, NY. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Massabesic Friends of Music, 134 Old Alfred Road, East Waterboro, ME 04030.