William (Bill) Francis Grady, Jr., passed away at his Five Islands home on November 10. At his side was his long-time partner, girlfriend, and care-taker Wendy Harrison.

Bill was born in Boston, MA, on March 3, 1951 to William Grady, Sr., and Elaine Grady (Mavromatos), the youngest of their three children.

He skied and surfed throughout America, but was especially fond of the dry and bountiful powder skiing in Utah, which he would tell you was, “the berries.” While doing so surely interfered with his skiing, he did eventually obtain a degree from Suffolk University, after also attending Colorado State University at Fort Collins. Despite his Boston roots, and his time skiing the American west, Maine has always been the only place to truly hold his attention.

It was here, in 1979, that he met the first love of his life, and the mother of his boys, Debra Kirk. She was the daughter of the manager of Reid State Park, where he caught her eye with a pair of golden surf trunks and his Phillips tri-fin, or so we’ve been told.

He taught his two sons, Collin and Ian, to ski on the slopes of Sunday River, Big Squaw Mountain, and Sugarloaf. If you appeared even remotely interested, or just sat still long enough, he would gladly tell you about Collin’s first trip down Sunday River’s White Heat at just five years old.

His career as a marketer and advertising copywriter allowed him to fund the family passion for skiing, to support the athletic and extracurricular pursuits of his sons, and, when times were especially good, to keep a boat and an extra car (preferably with only doors) in the driveway – none more beloved than his Datsun Z or Saab 900 Turbo.

His life, while too short, was rich and full in many ways. He was an average ice-race driver and, as family legend has it, a better than average Freeport City Councilor. It was there, from 1986-1992 that the secret to his electoral success, he said, was a bright green plaid blazer which he wore while knocking on doors.

It is fitting, and comforting to his family, that he passed away at his home on Ledgemere Road, a refuge for him, like his father before him, and truly his favorite place. He was within view of the Atlantic Ocean, which captivated him, and now supports the livelihood of one son, and the leisure of the other.

He is survived by his sons Collin and Ian and their mother Debra, his sister Shannon and brother David, and his girlfriend Wendy.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Georgetown Community Center on Saturday, January 6th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Surfrider Foundation.