Obituary for William A. McGrath Jr.
McGrath, William A. Jr.
Irondequoit: Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at age 77, after a brief illness. Predeceased by his parents, William A. Sr. and Irene Johnson McGrath; sister, Karen Cline. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Carrie Anne (Spencer) McGrath; sons, William A. (Tammy) McGrath, III, Kevin S. (Jennifer) McGrath; grandchildren, Connor, Paige, Aiden and Liam McGrath, Tyler and Kaitlynn Rogers; great grandchildren, Azara and Spencer Rogers; sisters and brother, Patricia Butler of PA, Tom (Sharon) McGrath, Shirley McGrath; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Judy Spencer; many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
He graduated from Irondequoit High School in Irondequoit, NY and University of New York at Brockport State College. He retired from Xerox Corporation where he was an Operational Effectiveness Specialist.
Military Service: Active United States Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. United States Army Reserves, Rochester, NY. Past Commander of the Doud Post 98 American Legion, Gates, NY.
Current member of Mighty St Joes Alumni Corps of LeRoy, NY.
Past member of Emerald Cadets/Emerald Statesmen, United States Marine Corps Commandant’s Own Drum and Bugle Corps, Washington, DC., the 98th Division Army Band, Rochester, NY. He was an active member of the Baltimore Yankee Rebels, Rochester Crusaders, Phoenix Sr. Corps, Rochester Empire Statesmen, Prime Time Brass, and a member of the Company of Fifers and Drummers. Additionally, he stepped in and played for the Ghost Riders, and St. Joe’s Originals both of Batavia, NY. While getting his music degree, he worked with and was made the first Director of the New York State University College at Brockport marching band. Bill was a member of the United States Association of Rudimental Drummers. He worked with the Patriots Jr. Corps, New York, Skyliners, New York City and was consultant with the Kingston, Ontario Canada Grenadiers. He was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, The Rochester Crusader Hall of Fame, the American Patriots Hall of Fame, and the Maryland Drum Corps Hall of Fame. He was made an Honorary Member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers.
He was active in the New York Federation of Contest Judges, as well as an adjudicator with the New York State School Music Association. Bill was a member of the Drum Corps International and the Drum Corps Associates as a percussion caption judge.
Friends may call FRIDAY from 3-7PM at the DiPonzio Funeral Home, Inc., 219 Spencerport Road, Gates. On Saturday, December 2, all are invited to attend his Funeral Mass at 9:00AM at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3003 Dewey Ave. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Tunnels to Towers (www.t2t.org) or to American Cancer Society, PO Box 10727, Rochester, NY 14610 in his memory.
Irondequoit: Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at age 77, after a brief illness. Predeceased by his parents, William A. Sr. and Irene Johnson McGrath; sister, Karen Cline. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Carrie Anne (Spencer) McGrath; sons, William A. (Tammy) McGrath, III, Kevin S. (Jennifer) McGrath; grandchildren, Connor, Paige, Aiden and Liam McGrath, Tyler and Kaitlynn Rogers; great grandchildren, Azara and Spencer Rogers; sisters and brother, Patricia Butler of PA, Tom (Sharon) McGrath, Shirley McGrath; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Judy Spencer; many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
He graduated from Irondequoit High School in Irondequoit, NY and University of New York at Brockport State College. He retired from Xerox Corporation where he was an Operational Effectiveness Specialist.
Military Service: Active United States Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. United States Army Reserves, Rochester, NY. Past Commander of the Doud Post 98 American Legion, Gates, NY.
Current member of Mighty St Joes Alumni Corps of LeRoy, NY.
Past member of Emerald Cadets/Emerald Statesmen, United States Marine Corps Commandant’s Own Drum and Bugle Corps, Washington, DC., the 98th Division Army Band, Rochester, NY. He was an active member of the Baltimore Yankee Rebels, Rochester Crusaders, Phoenix Sr. Corps, Rochester Empire Statesmen, Prime Time Brass, and a member of the Company of Fifers and Drummers. Additionally, he stepped in and played for the Ghost Riders, and St. Joe’s Originals both of Batavia, NY. While getting his music degree, he worked with and was made the first Director of the New York State University College at Brockport marching band. Bill was a member of the United States Association of Rudimental Drummers. He worked with the Patriots Jr. Corps, New York, Skyliners, New York City and was consultant with the Kingston, Ontario Canada Grenadiers. He was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, The Rochester Crusader Hall of Fame, the American Patriots Hall of Fame, and the Maryland Drum Corps Hall of Fame. He was made an Honorary Member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers.
He was active in the New York Federation of Contest Judges, as well as an adjudicator with the New York State School Music Association. Bill was a member of the Drum Corps International and the Drum Corps Associates as a percussion caption judge.
Friends may call FRIDAY from 3-7PM at the DiPonzio Funeral Home, Inc., 219 Spencerport Road, Gates. On Saturday, December 2, all are invited to attend his Funeral Mass at 9:00AM at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3003 Dewey Ave. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Tunnels to Towers (www.t2t.org) or to American Cancer Society, PO Box 10727, Rochester, NY 14610 in his memory.