Preferred Portrait

William with his brothers and sisters

Army portrait - Vietnam Veteran, 1972

Wearing a firefighter helmet

William with his wife, Mary and their parents on their wedding day

William with his wife, Mary and children John and Katie at John's college graduation







Queen Elizabeth II September 11 Memorial Garden
Conseleya 9/11 Memorial
Dewitt 9/11 Memorial
Montclair State University 9/11 Memorial
East Newark 9/11 Memorial
Fair Haven 9/11 Memorial
Freehold Township 9/11 Living Memorial Tree Grove
Crescent Beach Park - Flagpole/Memorial for 9/11 Victims
Garrison Elementary School American Patriot Garden
Bill was born on July 2, 1952 in Mineola, New York. He was the fourth of five children born to Julia and Jack McGovern. His siblings were Kathy, John, Marilyn and Patrick. Bill attended St. Joachim and Anne Grammar School in Brooklyn and then went on to the St. Pascal Baylon High School in St. Albans, Queens. After high school he attended Queensborough College before joining the U.S. Army. He served his country from 1972-1974 during the Vietnam era and received an Honorable Discharge for his service. In 1978 Bill joined the FDNY. His early years as a firefighter were spent in Engine 209, Ladder 102 in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. In 1990 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to Engine 258 in Queens; in 1993 he became a Captain and worked Ladder 115 in Queens. In 1998 Bill was promoted to a Battalion Chief and was assigned to Manhattan in 2000. He was working as the Battalion Chief of the 2nd Battalion on September 11, 2001. Bill was married to Mary and they had two children, John (born in 1979) and Katie (born in 1990). He was truly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was actively involved in his children's lives; from coaching basketball, soccer and baseball, attending dance and gymnastics and acting as class parent in school. His work schedule allowed him flexibility to be active with his children and he thoroughly enjoyed this privilege. Bill was also the family member who brought everyone together; whether it was organizing family get-together or entertaining, he took charge and valued having all of his family around. He was an active man who had many interests some of which were boating, reading, music and sports. He had many good friends and truly lit up the room when he entered. He is loved and tremendously missed by many.
Billy, 8 years feels like
Billy, 8 years feels like yesterday. Everyday your in my thoughts.
Posted by Marilyn
Visted the memorial for the
Visted the memorial for the first time day brought my grandmother who shares the same birthday as Bill. She was born July 2nd 1930. It was all very moving and we sought out the engraving of his name with the flower they place on his birthday.
Published by Kenneth R. Mall
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