William Sailer ’53

William (Bill) Hall Sailer, 90, of Deal Island, MD passed away on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in his home. He was born in New York City on September 30, 1931, to the late Robert J. Sailer and Katherine (Hall) Sailer of New York. Bill graduated from George Washington High School in 1949 where he received a full scholarship for swimming to New York University, however, he chose to go to Hope College in Holland Michigan where he graduated in 1953 with a BA in Business Administration and English, he then joined the Army as a Military Intelligence Specialist. After serving in the Army, Bill spent 25 years at Ford Motor Company in Mahwah, New Jersey as an Industrial Engineer. When the plant closed, he went to work as a manager for Conrail until his retirement. He and his wife, Bernadette, retired to Deal Island. During his lifetime he was, a boy scout; on the swim team at George Washington high school; a member of the Knickerbocker Fraternity, staff writer and illustrator for the newspaper at Hope College; served on the Board of Education, Ambulance squad and Sunday school bus driver in New Jersey; and member of the Deal Island Chance Lions club. He loved to draw, write, swim, play chess, and do crossword puzzles. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Bernadette Sailer and fiance, Janice Landino; his parents Robert and Katherine Sailer; his brother and sister, Robert and Wendy Sailer; and two sons-in-law Douglas Bloodsworth Jr. and John Devincent. Bill is survived by his seven children: James (Deborah) Messenger, Catherine DeVincent, Marge (Kerry) Martin, Kenny (Diane) Sailer, Bob (Debbie) Sailer, Rodger Sailer and Robin Bloodsworth; his 14 grandchildren: Mark (Mary) Messenger, Michael (Suzanne) Messenger, Lauren Loglisci, Casandra (John) Whitesell, Brianne Blackmer, Kacee Blackmer, Dan (Jess) Huling, Clint Huling, Monica (Rob) Paul, Bill (Anne) Sailer, Amy Sailer, Eddy Sailer, Eric (Jill) Bloodsworth, James Giannini, and Michele (Matt) Price; 21 great-grandchildren; as well as many other family members, dear friends and lives Bill has touched throughout his life.

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