William D. Molloy

William D. Molloy, 93, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and funeral director died Friday, November 29, 2013, at St. Francis Hospital. He was the husband of the late Mary Marie Bates Molloy, and a man of deep faith and fidelity. Born in Syracuse, NY, on December 12, 1919, he was the son of the late William P. and Katherine (Daly) Molloy, the family moved to Hartford when he was three years old and had lived in West Hartford since turning 10 years of age. Bill was a graduate of Hall High School (where he was known as Mike). He played tennis and hockey, captaining his high school teams.. He attended Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA, and was drafted for service in WW II late in his senior year. He served with the 453rd Bomb Group in England and gallantly fought and won the “Battle of Ardmore”. His medal was the only love of his life of 59 years, the late Mary Marie (Bates) Molloy, of Ardmore, OK. Returning from overseas, he completed his studies at Cincinnati College and became licensed in Connecticut. Bill purchased the funeral home and moved the business to West Hartford in 1956, semi-retiring in 1983, and “really retiring” in 1993, even then “directing” from his summer home at Black Point Beach Club in Niantic, CT and his winter home in Tucson, AZ. For many years he was active in his parish community, working with several catholic organizations and coaching CYO baseball for St. Thomas the Apostle School during the 1960’s. He was a tennis player, gardener, skier, golfer, and builder of doll houses and their furnishings. He is survived by his seven children and their families: Sarah Riley and her husband Bill of Bloomfield, their daughter Maura and son Dan and his wife Melissa; Randy and his wife Eileen of West Hartford, their children W. Christopher and his wife Gina, Jennifer Dinardo and her husband Chris; John and his daughter Kerry of Boston, MA; Patricia Teich and her husband Mark of West Hartford, and their sons Matt and his wife Nicole and Greg; Michael Molloy of Madison, Jane Petroski and her husband Larry of Oxford and their children Carol and Paul; Mark and Jean Molloy of West Hartford and their daughters Margaret and Katherine. Also surviving him are his great grandchildren, Brian and Liam Riley; Colin and Maeve Molloy, Wyatt and Conor Dinardo, Michael Fitzpatrick, Skylar Ganavage, Avery Teich; his brother Dr. Robert Molloy and his wife Lorraine of Harwich, MA and his sister Helen Molloy of Bloomfield, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a close cousin, Jane, who was like a sister to him. Bill’s family would like to thank the staffs at St. Mary Home and St. Francis Hospital for their attention and care. Calling hours will be Monday, (Dec. 2) from 3:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. in the Molloy Funeral Home 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT. Friends are invited to join Bill’s family at the celebration of his Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church 872 Farmington Ave. West Hartford on Tuesday, (Dec. 3). Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle School, 25 Dover Rd. W. Hartford, CT 06119, St. Timothy Middle School 225 King Philip Dr. West Hartford, CT 06117, and Northwest Catholic High School, 29 Wampanoag Dr. W. Hartford, CT 06117.

William D. Molloy

December 12, 1919 - November 29, 2013