William E. Loftus

Bill was a gifted performer from a very young age. Whether playing a marimba or tap dancing, he graced the stages of the Steel Pier in Atlantic City performing with many of the Big Bands. He continued to follow his love for music and performing throughout his entire life.

Bill graduated from Mansfield State Teachers College in 1960 and married Beatrice Bensink on New Year’s Eve of that same year. They worked in the Endicott School System for a brief time and then relocated to Jamestown, NY where he began his career teaching science at Jamestown High School. After completing his Masters Degree in School Administration, Bill went on to work as the Director of School and Community Relations, and eventually became a Vice-Principal at Jamestown High School.

While in Jamestown, Bill and Bea welcomed three daughters – Kim, Kellisue, and Kindra. He was very active in the First Congregational Church/United Church of Christ where he served as Moderator and Choir Director for many years. Bill also directed musicals at Little Theatre in Jamestown, and worked at Chautauqua Institution as the Ticket Box Coordinator during the Summer Season.

Always striving for a greater challenge, in 1977 Bill relocated his family to Tully, NY, where he accepted a position as Principal of the Tully Junior-Senior High School. In 1980 the family relocated to Laurens, NY where he held the position of Superintendent/Building Principal for Laurens Central School. In 1985 Bill accepted the Superintendent’s job in Forestville, NY. And, in 1989 his next opportunity took him to Montauk, NY, where he retired in 1995.

While in Laurens and Montauk, Bill was an active member of the Volunteer Fire Department and EMS Squad.

In 1992, Bill married Bina Nicholson and upon retirement returned to Western New York to enjoy the next 30+ years of an active and happy retirement in Fredonia, New York traveling to Europe, Ireland, and most especially his beloved Maine.

Bill was an avid volunteer sharing his skills with the American Red Cross, the Adaptive Ski Program, Ski Patrol and the Fredonia First Methodist Church.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed running, cycling, canoeing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, traveling and playing his trombone with “the Band”. Bill loved his family, his friends, good food, good company and a “very, very dry martini with 3 olives”.

Bill is survived by his wife, Bina Loftus; his daughters, Kindra (Jesse) Knapp of West Laurens, NY; Kellisue (Jeffrey) Friedman of North Hampton, NH; Kim Loftus (Tim Dobler) of Mount Vision, NY; his grandchildren, Jonah Friedman of Geneva, NY and Ginger Friedman of Washington, D.C.; his mother-in-law, Bina Todd; Tracy Jo and Jimmy Meola and Kallie McDermott, of Watertown, NY, and Todd Howland of Watertown, NY; many good friends; and last, but far from least, his much beloved Golden Retrievers, Riley and Buddy.

Calling hours will be from 2-4pm on Saturday, March 1st at the LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Ave., Fredonia, NY, where a funeral service will follow at 4 pm. The service will also be livestreamed on Bill’s site on the Larson-Timko Funeral Home web site and the link can be found at, larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Flowers are welcome or contributions in Bill’s memory to the ADK Mountain Club, Attention: Donations, 494 Maple Ave, Suite 1, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or online at members.adk.org.

The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to the many caregivers at the Neuroscience Unit and Palliative Care Unit at Buffalo General Hospital. Their many hours of professional care and kindness will not be forgotten.

Internment will be this Summer at the Mount Vision Cemetery in Mount Vision, NY; the Brookside Cemetery in Watertown, NY; and ashes will be spread in the Adirondacks along one of Bill’s favorite canoe spots.

On-line condolences may be made at larson timkfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements by David J. Dengler