William F. Zacher

FRIENDSHIP - William F. Zacher, 80, of 33 Sunnyside St., Friendship, passed away peacefully on Friday (May 13, 2022) at home, with family by his side. Born on Aug. 18, 1941, in Hinsdale he was a son of R. Chester "Chet" and Genevieve S. Gardner Zacher. On July 12, 1969, in Cortland, he married the former Mary Ellen Morgan, who passed away Sept. 27, 2018. Bill was a graduate of Friendship Central School, Class of 1959. While in high school, he was active in baseball, basketball and soccer. He played in the American Legion County Baseball All-Star squad for several years and was a vital player helping secure the Section V Class D championship his senior year. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1962-66. He received many medals for his service. In 1973, he graduated from Alfred State with an electrical degree. Upon graduation, he was hired by Alfred State College, in the School of Applied Technologies, for the next 25 years, with 11 of those years serving as department chair, prior to his retirement. In retirement, he served on the Friendship Town Board and for several years as town supervisor. During summers, for 15 years, he worked for Lefty Miller's cable company. Active in the Friendship community, baseball remained in his blood and he spent 30 years as a coach and/or member of the board of directors of the Friendship Little League. He was the public announcer for the Allegany County Little League and was named the P.A. Announcer for the 1983 NYS Little League championship game. He was also instrumental in organizing various golf tournaments benefiting numerous organizations for the benefit of others. He had also served his community as a Boy Scout leader, past member of the Friendship Fire Department, an announcer of cable TV for sporting events, as well as being a member of the Friendship Rotary Club, where he was a past president and was honored for his service, with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Last, he was a 50-plus-year member of the Friendship American Legion Post 1168, where he was a member of the honor guard and served on various committees that provided scholarships to students in the community. His other interests included golf, enjoying the beauty of Letchworth State Park and spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by two daughters, Catherine Zacher of Friendship and Christine (Todd) Ward King of Ferry; four grandchildren, Maura and Christopher Talbett, and Brady and Jack Ward; a brother James (Leigh) Zacher of West Clarksville; several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth; two sisters, Marian Carl and Carol Zacher; and two nephews, Fred Zacher and James Zacher. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday (May 18, 2022) at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull St. Cuba. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 am. on Thursday (May 19, 2022) at Holy Family Church, 5 Milton St., Belmont. Burial with full military honors, accorded by members of the Friendship American Legion Post 1168, will be held in Maple Grove Cemetery, Friendship. Memorials may be made to the Friendship American Legion Post 1168 Scholarship Fund. (c) Published by Olean Times Herald on May 16, 2022. Used with permission