After a brief yet valiant battle with pancreatic cancer, on May 22, 2017, William Hintze left this Earth to continue his journey with the love of his life, the late Catherine, who predeceased him in 2007.
Bill was born in West Avoca at his grandparents’ home on May 4, 1936, to the late Edwin and Mary (Mullaney) Hintze. He was a graduate of Hughestown High School, and played on the District II champion basketball team, which competed in the State Tournament. He played baseball and basketball for the Red Devils Organization, the Hideaway, and the YMCA Merchant League.
Mr. Hintze was employed by Pittston Lumber for decades as the yard foreman. Upon his retirement, he went on to work for 10 years at 84 Lumber. He was a retiree of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 401.
Bill was a proud veteran of the US Army, where he was the Sixth Army Automatic Rifle Champion, and competed in the All Army Matches in 1960.
He was a lifetime member of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hughestown, where he served on the Church Council. He was a member of Valley Lodge 499 F&AM, West Pittston.
He was a man with a very defined sense of right and wrong, who by his example of hard work and perseverance, taught his children lifelong values and inner strength. Known to his children by “Whip” a name given by his late friend, “Whitey”, he was the sun around which they orbited. After Cathy’s death, Bill filled his days with the treasures of his life, his granddaughters. “Papa” never missed a game, concert, history bee, or performance.
Bill also loved the New York Yankees (except Alex Rodriguez and, more recently, Starlin Castro), the NY Giants, his vegetable garden, and fishing. He was a history buff and political junkie, lover of Real Time with Bill Maher and MSNBC. As a child of the Great Depression and union member who experienced racial segregation first hand during his service to this country, he maintained that America was certainly great before November, 2016. He opened his home to a Get Out the Vote event during the 2016 Presidential election.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Edward, and his son, William.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Scott and his wife Alicia, and their children, Cassandra and Liliana, and his daughter, Kimberly, and her daughter, Caroline, to whom he was so much more than a grandfather. Bill is also survived by Edward’s widow, Susan Hintze, his sisters in law Ruth Teti, Ann Konsavage, Janet Lucarelli, Helen Fino, Maureen Rosiak, brother in law John Golden, and their families.
Friends and family are invited to attend a viewing at Adonizio Funeral Home, LLC, 251 William Street, Pittston, on Friday, May 26, 2017 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral Service by the Rev. Robert F. Sauers and Rev. Charles Grube of St., Paul’s in Dallas, will be held on Saturday, May 27, at 10:00 am, in St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rock and Center Streets, Hughestown. Interment to follow at the family plot at Hughestown Cemetery.
In keeping with Bill’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Bear Creek Camp, MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood, Ronald McDonald House (Hershey), or St. Peter’s. Honor his memory by spending a day fishing with your children and grandchildren. A special thanks to his old friends, Tony, George and Jackie, as well as his new friend Ky, who made his illness a lot easier to bear.
…”when I’m dead and gone, I got one last wish….put my Yankee hat on.”