William H. 'Bill' Shay Jr.

CHESHIRE – William H. Shay Jr., member and former Junior Warden of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, past President of Cheshire Exchange Club, longtime member of Cheshire Community Chorus, alumni of Cheshire High School Class of 1957 and UCONN School of Insurance, United States Air force serviceman, died Sunday at Smilow Cancer Center. He was 75.

Mr. Shay was born in New Haven September 15, 1939, to William H. and Elizabeth (Bristol) Shay. He had resided in Cheshire since 1946 and retired as President of the Bristol Insurance Agency Inc., an enterprise founded by his great grandfather in 1875.

He leaves a son William H. Shay III; a daughter Hilary DiMauro and her husband Rick; as well as a beloved granddaughter Liliana Shay DiMauro.

In addition to his brothers, Paul and Rick; three sisters Sally Johnson, Ellen McKenzie and Kathy Sitar, he will be missed by Jean Baldwin and loving step-daughter Pamela Guglielmino.

The family will be receiving visitors at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home this Saturday afternoon from 4 to 7. A funeral service will be held on Sunday afternoon at 2 in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 59 Main St., Cheshire with the Rev. Sandra Stayer officiating. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Fairfield at 11 Monday morning. Contributions to St. Peter’s Church would be preferred over flowers by request of Mr. Shay.