William F. “Bill” Craig, age 92, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2023, with family at his side after a sudden decline in his health. Bill loved life and lived it to the fullest. His quick Irish humor could be counted on to brighten any dinner party. He avidly followed his beloved Villanova Wildcats and any of his kids or grandkids’ college teams.
Bill was born in Philadelphia, PA, on September 16, 1931, to the late Dennis and Beatrice Gallagher Craig. He grew up in Upper Darby, PA, and graduated from Villanova University in 1953. After college, he served in the Army as a Military Intelligence Specialist. In 1959, he earned an MBA from Drexel University. He went on to complete advanced degrees from Harvard and Rutgers Universities.
As a hard worker he was incredibly astute and believed strongly in the power of writing. At Drexel, he wrote articles that were published in the Public Utility Fortnightly. This led to an offer to join Irving Trust Company. He continued to write business related articles that were published in magazines and trade related journals.
Due to his tenacity and leadership Irving Trust accelerated his progress throughout the bank where he created a division designed to finance oil, gas, and mineral production worldwide. In 1974, he became a Director of The Pittston Company. He also served on the Boards of both the New York and Massachusetts State Bankers Association. He was on the Board of the Atlantic International Bank in London, was a member of the
Finance Committee of the US Chamber of Commerce and a member of the
International Committee of the Association of Reserve City Bankers.
Bill was then offered the position of Executive Vice President at Shawmut Bank in Boston, where he oversaw the investment portfolio, credit administration and asset/liability management. He was elected President in 1980 and Vice Chairman in 1984. In 1990, he capped off an illustrious career by forming a private equity firm, Charter Capital Corporation, and proceeded to reinvent himself, buying distressed banks.
In addition to his professional success, Bill generously volunteered his time and resources serving as Chairman of the Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corp., as President of the United Way of Eastern New England, and as Chairman of the Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdioceses of Boston. He was a trustee of Trinity College in Washington DC, Bentley College in Waltham, MA, and Saint John Seminary, Brighton, MA. He was Vice Chairman of the New England Council for Economic Development, and Chairman of the Finance Committee at Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA.
Most importantly, Bill was a man of great faith who was blessed with a large family, whom he loved more than anything. It started with his parents Dennis and Beatrice and brothers Dennis and Jack. While in college, Bill met Louise Haenn. They were later engaged on Christmas Eve, 1957, and married on May 10, 1958. Bill and Louise were
blessed to have nine children, eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Bill was married to the love of his life Louise for 38 years before her untimely death in 1996. Following Louise’s death, Bill married Jessica Miller and then Bernadette Wadsworth, both of whom, unfortunately, pre-deceased him, and whom he also loved deeply.
While Bill spent most of his time in Florida following his retirement, he would summer in Eagles Mere, PA, with his children and grandchildren. Bill was fondly known as “Buck” tohis grandchildren. Fairview Farm was his home in Eagles Mere and the site of many great family gatherings.
Bill’s legacy is long and he instilled in his family the values of faith, hard work, generosity, and togetherness.
Bill is survived by his brother Jack Craig (Marilyn); his children Bill (Ginny), Matt (Lisa), Ric, Dede, Bonnie Mendoza, Cathy Lynch (David), Margie (Rob Amerine), Nancy Tobin (Rich), and Carrie Hilgendorff (Hugo); his grandchildren Lauren (Peter) Will, Jamie, Jessi (Dalton), Rusty (Abbey), Stacia, Jimmy, Sarah, JP, Kevin, Lilly, Patrick, Nicholas, Jack, Annie, Ellie, Quinn, and Carter; and great-grandchildren Emilia, Afton, and Teagan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives Louise, Jessica, and Bernadette; brother Dennis Craig Jr; brothers in-law: Bill Gaul, Joe Haenn, Bob Rainey, and Bob Liegel, sisters-in-law: Jane Craig and Cathy Shannon; and son-in-law Rick Mendoza.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Basil the Great Catholic Church in Dushore, PA, on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA 18614
To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com.
