William F. “Bill” Christy passed away at Delaware Hospice Center with his wife and son by his side. Christy was 73 years old.
Born on April 25, 1952, in Northbridge, Massachusetts, Christy’s birth parents were Freddie and Ruth Christy, but he was raised by John and Ruth Keefe. Most of his formative years were spent between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but he never lost his Massachusetts accent.
Christy dabbled in many careers as was common among his peers in the 1960s and 70s. He worked as a traveling salesman for General Motors, a property manager for a housing development, a co-generation trash plant and for a highway excavation company. He eventually settled as an iron worker, a welder, a job he loved, especially when working on intricate staircases. His longest time working in the field was at Novel Iron Works in Greenland, New Hampshire. It was there, in 2001, while walking and fishing the beach, he met the woman who would become his wife, Cristina.
In 2006, with some of their blended family in tow, the Christy’s moved from Plum Island (Newbury), Massachusetts to Milford, Delaware. While Cristina enjoyed going to work, Christy cared for the home doing the landscaping, preparing elaborate meals and caring for two granddaughters the couple decided to raise. Christy was his wife’s number one supporter, raising money for her to take students to Italy by making paracord bracelets and working to get her a commendation from the State of Delaware House of Representatives.
The couple, along with their granddaughters, took part in beach cleanups, dune grass planting and other community events that involved the shore. Christy was an avid surf fisherman and a member of the Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen. He was passionate about music in schools and worked on a Blues in Schools program. He often said the highlight of his life was meeting B.B. King in person and getting his guitar, which Christy named Lucille, autographed.
Christy and his son, Jonathan, rode bikes in the New England country, but when he was older, Christy settled on riding in “flatter” Delaware. Not long before his death, Christy discovered recumbent bikes.
An avid pet lover, Christy began collecting fish and birds when he was young. Later, he raised and showed Rottweilers. Over the years, Christy owned many different dog breeds and rescued many feral cats. During his last few months, his BFF – Best Furry Friend – El Diablo, came to visit him in every hospital, skilled nursing facility room and in the Delaware Hospice Center.
His family says that Christy fought valiantly for four months, never giving up and believing he would finally get to travel to Italy with Cristina, a country he had never visited. They had discussed selling their home in Milford as Christina had recently retired and their grandchildren were now grown.
Christy is survived by his loving wife of 24 years as well as his children, Jonathan and his wife Sarah and L. Robert Prieto and his wife Leandra. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Elizabeth Poirier; Madilyn Poirier; Anya Preito; Isabella Preito; Sky Reynolds and his first grandson, Lucas Alexander Preito, who was born October 2.
A memorial service was held on October 5 with guests asked to dress casually in bright colors. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in Christy’s name to Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford DE 19963 or visiting their website.
