William K. Booth

William K. Booth of West Hartford, CT, died on Sunday, February 21, 2016, at age 65, after a four year struggle with lung cancer, with his loyal and devoted partner of 44 years, Roger Calip of West Hartford, CT, by his side. Born in Springfield, MA on November 25, 1950, he finished elementary school at Holy Name School and secondary education at Technical High, both schools in Springfield. He went on to Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA where he graduated with an associate’s degree in 1971. While in college, he worked for eight years as a computer operator at Baystate West, a bank in Springfield, MA. From there, he landed a job as a computer operator at The Hartford Courant in July 1978; he eventually became a supervisor of computer operations at the same newspaper, a post he held until his retirement in September 2008. He was predeceased by his father, Robert Booth and his mother, Helen Gagnon Booth. Bill is survived by seven siblings and their respective spouses: Bernard Booth of Kennesaw, GA; Robert Booth and wife Jane Waggenbach Booth of Hadley, MA; Mary Booth of West Springfield, MA; Thomas Booth and wife Denise of Springfield, MA: Anne Henderson of West Springfield, MA; Katherine Blake and husband Paul of Springfield, MA; and Joseph Booth and wife Peishan of Sapporo, Japan. Bill’s many nephews and nieces and their respective spouses include Bernice Booth and Joy Garcia and husband Alex of Chicago; Allison Maio and husband Anthony of Sunderland, MA; Priscilla Booth and husband Abdul Ismail of Hadley, MA; Amie Ryan and husband Thomas of East Longmeadow, MA; Justin Booth of Boston; Erika Cornichuck and husband Cory of Methuen, MA; Theresa Allen of Springfield, MA; Candice Blake and Brian Blake and wife Maura of Springfield; and Olivia Booth of Sapporo, Japan. The sense of humor that Bill displayed throughout his life to family members, friends and acquaintances became the single most dominant characteristic of his years in retirement. He had a gift for subtle puns and camouflaged wordplays satirizing current political events. He enjoyed reading mystery and detective novels, especially those written by Jonathan Kellerman and Sue Grafton, but the daily and Sunday comics sections were first in his reading priorities at breakfast. He also spent hours learning new tricks with his personal computer, as well as familiarizing himself with the latest and greatest in information technology. Raised as a Roman Catholic, he did not belong to any one organized church but continued to believe in the power of Prayer and the existence of God.