Bill was one of my close friends in Lockport. We knew each other beginning in Emmet Belknap Elementary School and continuing through Emmet Belknap Junior High School and Lockport Senior High School. He lived with his parents and sister on Pound St a short distance from Emmet Belknap.
Sadly I lost touch with Bill and many other of my Lockport friends and classmates after I went off to college, although I did get to see Bill in Boston circa 1968 when I was an RPI Cooperative Education student with Sanders Associates in nearby Nashua, New Hampshire.
Besides being Emmet Belknap and LSHS classmates, Bill and I were in the Cub Scouts (Pack 50) together. Our Pack 50 den mother, or one of our Pack 50 den mothers, was Marcy Strouse's mom. Bill, Dick Cammarata (deceased) and Roger Brath of the Class of 1965 (now living in Amherst, NY) were some of my amateur radio friends. Bill, Tim Brady, John Kelso and I were some of the members of the stage crew at both Emmet Belnap Junior High and LSHS. Bill became Stage Manager (head of the stage crew) at both Emmet Belknap and LSHS. As Chris Dix has noted, Bill was active in the Dramatics Club and Thespians, an interest he continued after graduating from LSHS.
Many times after our monthly Lockport Amateur Radio Association meetings in the basement of the Civil Defense Building, Bill, I and some of our other ham radio friends would go out for pizza, usually at Pontillos.
Bill often gave me rides to school (LSHS) in his father's car. My mother was friends with Bill's mother Flora Brown Caton. Flora worked at the Lockport Public Library.
A few years ago I reconnected by telephone and emails with our classmate Tony Busch. Tony told me that he and Bill were roommates at Geneseo. Tony told me that Bill remained a confirmed bachelor his entire life and that Bill enjoyed going on trips on his motorcycle.
I'd welcome reading memories of Bill from others in the Class of 1966.
Here is a transcription of Bill's obituary:
From the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal newspaper:
William H. "Bill" Caton
Electronic Data Systems employee
(includes photograph of Bill)
William "Bill" Caton, 54, a lifelong resident of Lockport and an employee of
Electronic Data Systems, died unexpectedly Friday, February 16, 2001, while
on a business trip to Philadephia, Pennsylvania.
Born January 20, 1947, in Lockport, he was the son of the late William and
Flora Brown Caton.
Caton was a 1965 [sic, should be 1966] graduate of Lockport Senior High
School. In 1970 he began working as a computer programmer for General
Motors' Harrison Radiator division. He worked for GM until January 1, 1985,
when his section of the company was taken over by EDS. While he was with
EDS, he held a management position of supervisor of database administration,
and, most recently, was a project management consultant.
For many years he was an integral part of Lockport's cultural and artistic
communities. For five years during the 1970s, he produced an outside
musical show in conjunction with the Lockport Lions Club. He had a
twenty-year association with the Taylor Theater's Four Seasons Players,
first as a production worker, then as a set and lighting designer, and
often as a producer. During the 1980s, he designed sets for the Niagara
County Community College productions of "Cyrano deBergerac" and "Hot L
Baltimore".
From 1990-92, he was on the board of governors of the Kenan Center, and
served as president of the board in 1992. He was also a founding member of
the S.P.M.R.
His hobbies included gardening, art collecting, travelling (particularly
in Europe), and reading history books.
He is survived by a sister, Karen (Douglas) Puff; three nephews, Christopher
(Katherine), Daniel, Gregory; and a niece, Jenny.
Friends may call Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Prudden and Kandt Funeral
Home, 242 Genesee St., where funeral services will be held Thursday at
9:30 a.m. Interment will be in Cold Spring Cemetery. Memorials to the
Kenan Center would be appreciated by the family.
I remember Bill a a classmate. He was one of the first "Techie" people I knew. I was always amazed how he knew his way around the stage area and how he was able to do so much. A very good guy that I am proud to call a classmate.
(No idea what happened to my earlier posted comments on Bill, but here they are again.)
Another sad day for the Class of '66 with the recent news about Bill passing away---I'll always remember Bill as being quiet for the most part even shy at times, but with a sparkle in his eye and a quick, engaging smile.
As many of his classmates will recall, Bill was particularly involved during high school working "behind the scenes" in a number of productions as an active member of the Dramatics Club, Thespians and Stage Crew.
Although Bill won't be there in person to help us celebrate our 50th Reunion, we'll certainly remember him in spirit along with our other deceased classmates at a brief memorial ceremony on Saturday, September 24 during a morning tour of the LSHS/LHS campus---please join us.
Knowing now that Bill passed away nearly 15 years ago at the much too young age of 54 makes the recent news of his death even sadder---so much more to experience in life and so much more to give back to the community that he obviously loved so dearly---rest easy, Bill, you haven't been forgotten by your many Class of '66 friends!!!
Gary Aikin
Bill was one of my close friends in Lockport. We knew each other beginning in Emmet Belknap Elementary School and continuing through Emmet Belknap Junior High School and Lockport Senior High School. He lived with his parents and sister on Pound St a short distance from Emmet Belknap.
Sadly I lost touch with Bill and many other of my Lockport friends and classmates after I went off to college, although I did get to see Bill in Boston circa 1968 when I was an RPI Cooperative Education student with Sanders Associates in nearby Nashua, New Hampshire.
Besides being Emmet Belknap and LSHS classmates, Bill and I were in the Cub Scouts (Pack 50) together. Our Pack 50 den mother, or one of our Pack 50 den mothers, was Marcy Strouse's mom. Bill, Dick Cammarata (deceased) and Roger Brath of the Class of 1965 (now living in Amherst, NY) were some of my amateur radio friends. Bill, Tim Brady, John Kelso and I were some of the members of the stage crew at both Emmet Belnap Junior High and LSHS. Bill became Stage Manager (head of the stage crew) at both Emmet Belknap and LSHS. As Chris Dix has noted, Bill was active in the Dramatics Club and Thespians, an interest he continued after graduating from LSHS.
Many times after our monthly Lockport Amateur Radio Association meetings in the basement of the Civil Defense Building, Bill, I and some of our other ham radio friends would go out for pizza, usually at Pontillos.
Bill often gave me rides to school (LSHS) in his father's car. My mother was friends with Bill's mother Flora Brown Caton. Flora worked at the Lockport Public Library.
A few years ago I reconnected by telephone and emails with our classmate Tony Busch. Tony told me that he and Bill were roommates at Geneseo. Tony told me that Bill remained a confirmed bachelor his entire life and that Bill enjoyed going on trips on his motorcycle.
I'd welcome reading memories of Bill from others in the Class of 1966.
Here is a transcription of Bill's obituary:
From the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal newspaper:
William H. "Bill" Caton
Electronic Data Systems employee
(includes photograph of Bill)
William "Bill" Caton, 54, a lifelong resident of Lockport and an employee of
Electronic Data Systems, died unexpectedly Friday, February 16, 2001, while
on a business trip to Philadephia, Pennsylvania.
Born January 20, 1947, in Lockport, he was the son of the late William and
Flora Brown Caton.
Caton was a 1965 [sic, should be 1966] graduate of Lockport Senior High
School. In 1970 he began working as a computer programmer for General
Motors' Harrison Radiator division. He worked for GM until January 1, 1985,
when his section of the company was taken over by EDS. While he was with
EDS, he held a management position of supervisor of database administration,
and, most recently, was a project management consultant.
For many years he was an integral part of Lockport's cultural and artistic
communities. For five years during the 1970s, he produced an outside
musical show in conjunction with the Lockport Lions Club. He had a
twenty-year association with the Taylor Theater's Four Seasons Players,
first as a production worker, then as a set and lighting designer, and
often as a producer. During the 1980s, he designed sets for the Niagara
County Community College productions of "Cyrano deBergerac" and "Hot L
Baltimore".
From 1990-92, he was on the board of governors of the Kenan Center, and
served as president of the board in 1992. He was also a founding member of
the S.P.M.R.
His hobbies included gardening, art collecting, travelling (particularly
in Europe), and reading history books.
He is survived by a sister, Karen (Douglas) Puff; three nephews, Christopher
(Katherine), Daniel, Gregory; and a niece, Jenny.
Friends may call Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Prudden and Kandt Funeral
Home, 242 Genesee St., where funeral services will be held Thursday at
9:30 a.m. Interment will be in Cold Spring Cemetery. Memorials to the
Kenan Center would be appreciated by the family.
William Agronin
I remember Bill a a classmate. He was one of the first "Techie" people I knew. I was always amazed how he knew his way around the stage area and how he was able to do so much. A very good guy that I am proud to call a classmate.
Chris Dix
(No idea what happened to my earlier posted comments on Bill, but here they are again.)
Another sad day for the Class of '66 with the recent news about Bill passing away---I'll always remember Bill as being quiet for the most part even shy at times, but with a sparkle in his eye and a quick, engaging smile.
As many of his classmates will recall, Bill was particularly involved during high school working "behind the scenes" in a number of productions as an active member of the Dramatics Club, Thespians and Stage Crew.
Although Bill won't be there in person to help us celebrate our 50th Reunion, we'll certainly remember him in spirit along with our other deceased classmates at a brief memorial ceremony on Saturday, September 24 during a morning tour of the LSHS/LHS campus---please join us.
Chris Dix
Knowing now that Bill passed away nearly 15 years ago at the much too young age of 54 makes the recent news of his death even sadder---so much more to experience in life and so much more to give back to the community that he obviously loved so dearly---rest easy, Bill, you haven't been forgotten by your many Class of '66 friends!!!