KINDERHOOK -

William (Bill) John Grayson passed peacefully at home on December 29, 2025 surrounded by comfort and care.

Born in Manhattan on December 18, 1945, Bill was the son of the late Marie Delores Galassi. While his family beginnings were unconventional, family was always at the center of his life. He was lovingly supported - although always on his own terms - by his mother’s family, especially his aunts and uncles, and most notably his Uncle Joe Galassi, who, as an older and trusted influence in his life, shared with Bill many of the interests that would come to define him, including history and sports. Uncle Joe’s love of hockey in particular left a lasting impression, sparking a lifelong devotion to the game. His Aunt Bridget was also a steady and loving presence in his life and later in the lives of his children.

His family valued education. Despite modest means, Bill attended Archbishop Molloy High School, graduating in 1963. There, he excelled in track and field, particularly javelin, and earned the nickname “Hollywood” for his good looks, and “Choo” for his locomotion-like build, strength, and athleticism.

Around this same time, he developed a love of golf - an unlikely pursuit for a city kid with little money or ready access to the game. Determined to learn, he studied Arnold Palmer’s swing, found his way onto courses, and found some cohorts among his friends. Through persistence and natural talent, he became an accomplished golfer and carried a lifelong love of the sport.

Bill began his studies at St. John’s University before leaving to work for UPS. Never one to abandon a goal, he continued his education for many years through night school while working full time and ultimately earned a degree in English from Queens College.

Bill had a lifelong love of words. He was a thoughtful reader, a gifted writer, and someone who understood the power of language. He delighted in storytelling and took pride in expressing ideas clearly and beautifully. He held a true admiration for Abraham Lincoln, who of course, was a master of the written and spoken word. Bill was also a talented artist, drawing people, homes, scenes he loved and capturing his many ideas on paper.

A true Renaissance man with endless and boundless curiosity, Bill was a lifelong learner and adventurer. He earned his pilot’s license in and nurtured a deep love of flying for the rest of his life, delighting most in sharing that experience with his family and anyone willing to join him in the air, where he felt perfectly at home.

He was a historian with a particular passion for the Civil War. He was truly saddened that so few seemed to appreciate the significance of this tragic period in our history and its lessons it could teach us all. He loved music and loved to sing along with his children, especially while listening to his favorite oldies station on long car rides! He was a gifted designer and builder, with a passion for historic preservation and restoration. He thrived in nature and camping, especially in one of his self-constructed Tipis!

Bill’s careers reflected his many interests and talents. He ran a slot car track in the 60s, taught special education in the New York City public school system in the 1970s, where he loved introducing his students to the beauty of nature. He managed a swim club (where he met his future wife), worked in property assessment at Manhattan Savings Bank, and eventually became a builder and business owner, founding Silvernails Construction. Though his professional paths changed over time, each chapter informed the next, and he carried the lessons and skills of every role with him.

Through Silvernails Construction and beyond, Bill worked for more than 30 years as a builder and contractor with a deep respect for craftsmanship, historic homes, and the people who worked alongside him. He valued the relationships he built with fellow tradespeople and artisans as much as the work itself.

In 1980, Bill and his then wife Lois Alimonti ventured upstate from NYC and purchased land along the Roeliff Jansen Kill in Gallatin, New York, a place he called the most beautiful he had ever seen, and one he immediately knew was home. He moved there to start a family, and proudly designed and built the house they would call home. There, they raised their children, passing on his deep love of the land and the life it made possible.

A legendary storyteller, Bill loved to “hold court,” captivating anyone within earshot, (which wasn’t hard with his natural booming voice!) with tales from every stage of his life. His stories spanned childhood in Astoria, Queens and at St. Michael’s Home for Boys on Staten Island, driving UPS trucks through New York City traffic in the 1960s and ’70s, cross country road trips, adventures as a newlywed in Jackson Heights, street racing his beloved 1969 BMW 2002, and the many colorful characters he met and befriended along the way. His stories were endless and unforgettable.

Above all, Bill cherished being a father and having a family of his own. He loved and supported his children unconditionally, always encouraging their interests and talents, and he never missed an opportunity to proudly, and usually with humor, share their accomplishments with anyone who would listen. He believed deeply in giving his children access to experiences and opportunities he himself had not always had growing up, and he was just as present for the hard moments as he was for the joyful ones, always standing beside them through life’s challenges.

That belief guided how he raised his children. When his children were young, he taught himself to ski so that they could experience something new, and skiing went on to become a lifelong passion for his daughter, Beth, whom he cheered on with pride and delight, especially when she flew past the boys on the mountain. From him, she also inherited his appreciation of beauty and design, along with the confidence to pursue what inspired her.

In the same spirit, he passed on his love of hockey, not only as a devoted fan but as a coach, leading to his son, Billy’s, passion for the game. This led to thousands of cherished hours spent together, at all hours and in all temperatures, throughout his son’s career on the ice, and it was a source of great happiness for both of them. Billy also inherited his father’s curiosity and understanding how things work, traits that naturally led him to engineering and a love of cars.

Bill was a proud man with a heart of gold, guided by a strong sense of right and wrong and a deep desire to help others whenever he could. It is impossible to fully capture all that he was, all that he did, and all that he meant to those who loved him over the course of his 80 years.

Bill will be deeply missed by his children, Beth (Bryan) and Billy (Kristy), and by his companion and best friend, Denise, who cared for him with unwavering love and devotion to the end. Denise will miss their endless conversations, his wisdom, humor, and steady presence, and the deep companionship and support they shared. He will also be missed and fondly remembered by the many friends and extended family who were fortunate to experience his stories, humor, generosity, and heart.

One of Bill’s final words was, “Put the plane down” - a pilot’s mantra for a safe and smooth ending to the flight. And, as those who love him and saw the dignity and peace of his passing, “he greased it.” We are profoundly grateful that he was able to do just that at home, embraced by love.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com