Bill Parisi passes-- Funeral arrangements added to initial post 6/18

This was unexpected.  Although I, like most other forumites, only knew Bill through his postings and his website, he was obviously a real "people person" and probably had never had a bad word said about him.  He was genuinely interested in others, in other modelers' layouts, and in the O gauge hobby at large.  I always enjoyed seeing his photos from his latest excursion to someone else's layout.

 

May his family cherish their memories and be comforted by the knowledge that Bill was so widely respected and admired.

This is very sad news. My thoughts and prayers go out to Bill's family and friends. 

 

I first met Bill at King Mouse's open house at Mercer Jct. Train Shoppe. Bill was snapping pics that were later posted on this forum.

 

Bill had a great personality and knew a great deal about our hobby and photography.

 

I will miss his posts and photos. I'm looking now for his last article in OGR. 

 

Clear signals ahead, Bill!       Tom

Allan mentioned in his post that Bill served in the Navy. Bill was also an Air Force veteran working in communications.  When he went back into the service he decided that rolling ships and wavy sea water was not for him!

 

Writing for OGR opened up new vistas for his positive personality and enriched us with editorial as well.

 

When Chuck wrote about Bill dragging me into breakfast at the Ham Fam in Allentown at 6:30 AM that was all too true.  That was the first laugh I have had in days.  Bill is a saint in heaven for that alone!

 

Good memories are mixing with grief, so I will make sure we remember Bill at Allentown.  The group picture won't be the same without him and neither will the O gauge hobby.

 

I am very blessed that he became my friend.

 

Ed Boyle

 

 

What a shock to open the OGR link this morning and see Allan's posting. I never had the pleasure of meeting Bill but followed him on line and in the magazine. Prayers and thoughts for Bill's family and all his friends here.

Ed:

 

Your testimonials  to Bill are an inspiration to us all. Unfortunately many of us on the Forum only knew Bill through his activities on this venue. But suffice to say he left us with a lasting and deep appreciation for his work. I for one will miss his very positive impact on our hobby. I hope OGR (the magazine) will do a feature article on his many contributions to our hobby.

That is very sad news indeed.  I will keep his family and friends in my prayers.  There is definitely a void in our train family today.

 

Ed

What a shock.  I have been out of the loop lately because of my wife's medical problems but, WOW.  York won't be the same without Bill.  My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.  May he rest in peace.

I did not know Bill but everything that I have read about him has been of a positive nature. As a enthusiastic member of the model railroad community it is certain that Bill will be missed. Our sincerest condolences to the Parisi family. May Bill rest in peace in heaven with his Lord and savior.

I have added information about Bill's funeral arrangements to the initial post on Page 1.

Thoughts and prayers with Bill's family and his extended OGR family .

My thoughts and prayers as well as a note to all.

 

Lets enjoy our friendships from the Forum and hobby with folks while we are "here", there have been many that are no longer with us, Owen, Jim Weaver, Bill Parisi and on.....

 

Enjoy the journey!

 

SAM

I am both shocked and saddened to learn about Bill's passing. I was fortunate to have had many conversations with Bill over the years at York while visiting the OGR Booth. We shared a number of similar interests including trains and photography.

 

When I first considered buying a new digital SLR camera I asked Bill for his advice. He was always someone you could talk to and was always ready to help anyone. 

 

Bill's passing will leave a large void in the 3 rail hobby world. But I believe that he is smiling down at us as we remember that he made a difference in this world. 

 

To Judy and Bill's family and his closest friends I offer my sincere condolences.

 

May his memory be for a blessing.

 

Steve Tapper 

I have to share this with the rest of our forum family:

 

Bill's wife, Judy, accompanied by members of his immediate family, stopped by our OGR offices this afternoon to thank the OGR family--here in Ohio and across the country and the world--for being such an important part of his life.  In this time of profound grief and with so many preparations to attend to for the upcoming services later this week, Judy and the others felt it was important to let us all know how much O gauge railroading in general, and OGR Publishing Co. in particular, meant to Bill.

 

How important is that connection?  Judy told us that Bill requested to be laid to rest wearing his OGR shirt--the one so familiar to those who have seen Bill at the York Meet and other events over the years.  That alone speaks volumes for our true and always loyal friend, Bill.

 

And the love of O gauge railroading in the Parisi family will not end with Bill's passing.  His young grandson, Zach, is a splendid representative of a future generation of hobbyist, and it has already been determined that he will inherit his grandfather's large and very fine train collection, all of which will be carefully cared for as an enduring legacy to Bill's passion and involvement in the hobby.

 

We ARE a family, and the loss we feel now is what any family feels in similar circumstances.  But we also take comfort in knowing that Bill is most assuredly in a better place, and that what he gave to this hobby and to those whose lives he touched will long be remembered.

I am very sad to hear this.  I had the pleasure of meeting Bill several times at the

Allentown show.  A gentleman in every way.  Bill will be missed.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Bill

Jeanne and I are very sad to hear about Bill's passing.  We always enjoyed stopping at the OGR booth at the Big E and talking with Bill - whether it was about trains, his grandchildren (about whom he was very proud) or his sore knees from standing on the concrete floors!  Our condlences and our prayers for Bill and his family.

 

Allan, what a great bright spot to hear that Zach will have the train collection. I spend far too much time on the phone every week with family members that have no interest in their loved ones trains. Glad to see his trains will be well cared for. 

Zach is a BIG TIME train fan!  He has some trains of his own, of course, and was actively participating in building Bill's new layout.  He enjoys running the Thomas remote control set that I have on the small layout my office and his train knowledge seems to grow by the day.  I have no doubt that Bill's train collection will be a treasured part of Zach's life in the future.

So sad to hear this.  My only contact with Bill was at York and he was easy to like.  I will miss him.  My sincere condolences to his family and the staff at OGR.

.....

Dennis

WOW! My internet service goes on the fritz and I come back to this???!!!

 

My sincere condolences to both the Parisi family and the OGR family. I had the opportunity to meet Bill many times at York and Allentown. He was quite the fixture at the OGR booth at the Allentown shows. He made it a point to wander over to the display area and check out what was new on our layout.  His was always one of the first smiling faces I'd see at the Saturday morning Ham Fam breakfast. Attached is a picture of him at the 11:00AM photo shoot at the OGR booth this past fall.

 

Rest in peace, Bill, and clear track ahead.

 

Chris

LVHR

Sorry to hear of Bill's passing.  I knew him from his posting on the forum.  He was a good man, as the condolences indicate on this thread.  It saddens me to hear of a fallen fellow model railroader. 

I know Bill will be missed by everyone, myself included, but lets look at the bright side, he can now enjoy looking down at the most magnificent layout in the universe and spend time with its creator. I always believed the reason trains and Christmas went so well together was because the earth was Gods big train set. 

I'm very sorry to hear about Bill.  I always enjoyed seeing him at Allentown.  My sincerest condolences to his family and all his friends as it seems he had many.  He will definitely be missed. 

I am shocked and very sad to hear this.  I met Bill at the York train show where we became friends.  He would hang out at my booth and talk trains and he would tell me about his grandson Zach.  I enjoyed his company.  York will not be the same for me.

I am really shocked to hear this news...  Last July, when Bill and his wife were visiting New Hampshire, I picked him up in Manchester and we went down to Marty Fitzhenry's in Dedham.  We enjoyed a nice visit with Marty and Dotty and a great lunch with them... The picture Marty posted earlier was of that visit [I think]...

 

After visiting Marty we traveled to Wilmington, MA and visited the Boston Metro High Railers layout...  Bill was very active with his camera there!

 

It was a really great experience spending the day with him, being his chauffer to the "best layouts in the area", and getting to know him...  It was the first time I had met Bill, and I think it's a testament to him that I felt I had known him all my life!

 

I am glad I had the experience of meeting him...  I think he had a good run...

R.I.P Bill.

I had the pleasure of meeting him and speaking with him a couple of times during his visit to our club. I can honestly say that Bill was a "down to earth" nice guy and it is a sad day for our hobby that such a great man was lost....Bill's family is in our thoughts and prayers.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nick Bonugli - Board of Directors/Scenery Co-Director

Boston Metro Hi railers

Sad news. My prayers go out to Bill, his family, and friends. 

Very saddened to read of this. The suddenness and unexpectedness of his passing made it especially difficult. I didn't know him or ever have a chance to meet him, but reading about him, I thought how much I would have enjoyed having him as my next door neighbor. Fun, interesting, and interested. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Sorry to hear of Bill's passing. My condolences to his family.

My deepest sympathies to the family.

 

George

Very sorry to hear of Bill's passing.  I didn't know him well but it makes you realize that you should take the time to get to know as many people as possible.  He was a real credit to our hobby.  My prayers are for his family.

 

Paul Fischer

I will also miss Bill.  I have enjoyed following his postings here and on his website.  His pictures were great.  I feel like I have really missed out by not meeting him in person.

I met Bill when he visited the Boston Metro Hi Railers club in Wilmington. He spoke to me about the many civic activites he had planned or participated involving model trains in his area of Ohio. He did a lot to spread the "gospel" of model railroading and took pride in the things he was able to do in his town, though he despaired a bit about the lack of publicity and credit the hobby deserved when it was providing special events for the elderly, the young, the sick and the community in general. 

 

He was a really committed modeler and the only one I have ever met so committed is Marty Fitzhenry of Boston.  

 

Condolences to his family and friends.

 

Bob Hilliard 

Very sad to hear of Bill's passing.  I always enjoyed viewing the photos he posted on his website of the layouts he had visited and photographed.  Condolences to the family.

 

Rick

So sorry to hear of Bill's passing.  To Bill's family and friends, I wish there were words to take away the hurt.  God Bless

He was an interesting man, even from the couple of short conversations we had. I was hoping he'd be at the open house this year.

God bless his family and friends, because they lost a good one...and I hope the big train set has a brand-new 700E to mess with.

Oh my!  My condolences to the Parisi family and friends! 

I'm at the Phillies / Nationals game, so during a pitching change I checked the Forum since I haven't read it much this week, and saw this thread.

What a shock and so very sad to read of Bill's passing.  He was always so gracious when greeting my wife Lynley and I.  At this past April's York Meet we chatted with him about some rolling stock he got for his grandson to play with so he could push them around the layout.   And he mentioned his upcoming surgery he wanted to get out of the way so he could enjoy the summer.

We wished him luck and told him we'd see him in October.  Loved talking trains with him and his enthusiasm for the hobby.

Our sincere condolences to his wife Judy and all of his family and friends.  We will keep the Parisi family in our prayers.  He will be greatly missed.

i never like to hear when a great respected person like bill has passed on.  we need to preserve his "diary" of thoughts and keep them in a special space. I wish I could have written things down from my father in law before he passed. My sincere prayers go out to his family, especailly his grandson as he will miss his pappy.

My sincerest condolences to Judy, immediate family, relatives and all of us fortunate to have come in contact with him and found they had a new life-long friend.  Bill always had a kind word to say, was always with a smile and was always willing to help.  My special condolences to the OGR family and especially Ed as they were among the ones who knew and cared for Bill the most.  It's tough coming to the Forum infrequently & see something like this.   He will be sorely missed.