William J. Schlageter 3rd Loved Time in East Chop

William John Schlageter 3rd, beloved husband of Linda of 41 years, died Oct. 4 after a long and inspiring battle with cancer and its complications.

Bill and Linda began traveling to the Vineyard in 1987 while their sons were attending Boston College, and as their visits grew longer and longer they started looking for a Vineyard home of their own. After a long search they purchased their current home in East Chop in 2000.

Bill loved his time on the Island, spending as much time as possible entertaining friends, working on the house and their yard, clamming in Sengekontacket Pond and fishing with his friends, Myron Stoll and Dr. Jim Reilly. He was a member of the East Chop Beach Club and a winter member of the Edgartown Yacht Club, and will be missed by his many friends on the Island and off.

Bill was born on June 4, 1940, in Toledo, Ohio. He was the first born of Bill and Dorothy Thomas Schlageter and the first grandchild for each set of grandparents.

He attended Good Shepherd Grade School in East Toledo, and completed his freshman year of high school at Central Catholic. At the end of his freshman year, a new Catholic boys school opened in Toledo and, to his dismay, his parents insisted that he change schools -- but what a blessing it was! Bill and a fantastic group of new friends were the first class at the Oblate St. Francis DeSales High School. They started as sophomores; as the school added a new class each year, the fabulous class of 1958 always remained "upperclassmen." They became the first graduating class from St. Francis, and Bill was student body president all three years and valedictorian of the senior class.

Bill then attended the University of Detroit, gaining a degree in electrical engineering in 1964. During this time friendships with new classmates were made and his love of this Jesuit institution was firmly established. While at the university, Bill gained wonderful work experience with its co-op program. He worked at Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the Apollo Space Program.

While Bill attended the University of Detroit, Linda attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio -- and the road from Detroit to Bowling Green was short. Bill and Linda married on August 1, 1964, shortly after Bill began working for Michigan Bell Telephone. He joined Michigan Bell in their initial management development program, and later earned his master's degree from Michigan State University in 1971.

Bill had a 30-year career with the Bell System and made a great impact on the business, gaining the admiration and respect of many. In 1993, Bill retired from Ameritech as executive vice-president of Ohio Bell and embarked on a new career in international communications. Along with his partners, including Myron Stoll of East Chop, he formed Communications Technologies, Inc., and helped launch a cellular phone system in western Ukraine.

In addition to his wife, Linda, Bill is survived by his sons: William John 4th (wife Kristin) of Paris, France, and their children, William V. (Jack), Samantha and Abigail; Stephen Paul (wife Sheila) of Raleigh, N.C., and their children, Elle, Meghan and Mac; and David Michael (wife Shannon) of Maplewood, N.J., and their children Rory, Ryan and Keelin.

Memorial contributions may be made to the William J. Schlageter 3rd Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Francis DeSales High School, 2323 West Bancroft street, Toledo, Ohio 43607 or to the William J. Schlageter 3rd Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Ignatius High School, 1911 West 30th street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.