William Hart

William “Bill” Hart was born on October 11th, 1924. At just seventeen, he met the love of his life, Helen. Drafted into service in 1943, Bill initially stood in line for the Army before transferring to the Navy. After completing boot camp, he spent a month traveling by ship to Australia, where he attended Radioman school. His service then took him to the Philippines and Uganda.

Bill returned home in 1945 and immediately began working for Railway Express to support his mother. In nearly every letter he wrote to Helen during the war, he asked her to marry him. Bill was certain he had found “the one,” and bought an engagement ring on his way home. They were married on October 20th, 1946 and this October, they will be celebrating an incredible 78 years of marriage.

Bill rose through the ranks for 25 years with the New York City Parks Department before retiring. A talented bass player and singer, he also performed in a quartet for three decades, performing at weddings every weekend at The Astoria Manor. Today, Bill and Helen live in a senior community in Yaphank, NY. Together, they have raised five children and are now the proud grandparents of 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.