William (Bill) Lewis Ely, 82, died on June 11, 2023 after a five-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born September 13, 1940 in Rochester, NY.
Bill is predeceased by his parents, J. Wallace Ely and Edythe Farnham. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Kristen Coate Ely; children: Laura Bender (Bruce), Anne Reitz (Chip), Arin Bryan (Hogan), Emily Ely (Rubin Miller), Vanessa Guy, and Amadeus Guy (Colette Webb); grandchildren: John, Leslie, Will, Charlie, Rosemary and Olive; siblings: Jim Ely Jr. (Mick) and Sue McQuilkin (Bill).
Bill grew up in Brighton, NY, raised his family in Pittsford, NY, and retired in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL with his wife Kristen. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in English literature at Syracuse University. Bill was the owner and president of Sloan & Company (Rochester, NY) and Metro Associates (Jacksonville, FL and West Palm Beach, FL). In addition to work and parenting his children, Bill was a long-term board member for Rochester-based organizations: Davenport-Hatch Foundation, Mary Cariola Children’s Center, and Genesee Country Village & Museum. He enjoyed all types of fishing, golfing with friends and grandchildren, SCUBA-diving, and sailing adventures in the Bahamas and Virgin Islands. His family will cherish many memories with him – sunrise walks and picnics at the beach, skiing in the winter, and unforgettable family vacations. Bill was humble and giving of his time and resources. His extroverted energy, playful sense of humor, and caring nature left an impression on so many people; he was most fulfilled spending time with family and friends.
A private memorial and graveside service will be held in the fall of 2023 in Pittsford, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider that donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Community Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeast Florida via https://www.communityhospice.com/give/ or Syracuse University, College of Arts & Sciences via http://givetothecollege.syr.edu. Please visit his Tribute online at www.quinn-shalz.com.
