Bill
The sudden loss of our colleague, co-founder and writer Bill Tobin is still sinking in here at HollistonReporter.com. Bill had gone on a recent cruise in the Gulf of Mexico when he contracted a bacterial virus. Arriving back in the Port of Boston, Tobin was taken by ambulance to Tufts Medical Center on May 5th and passed away on May 15th. For all measures, Bill was a man about town and the world. A frequent traveler with his wife, Anne, Bill could be just as at home while touring Russia or Ireland as counting votes at a local town meeting. A family man, Bill would often be off to celebrate the graduation or first communion of one of his grand kids.
Pictured above is Bill with other members of the Holliston Emergency Response Corps (HERC). Bill could be found helping people fill out their forms at the Hollison Flu Clinics.
Bill was always busy, as his energies seemed to have no bounds. During our weekly meetings at the Reporter and while assigning events to cover, we would jokingly guess why Bill couldn't cover a specific assignment due to his other commitments. We would chide, let us guess "you're counting the Sunday collection for St. Mary's that morning, you're going sking with your grandchildren, you're planning the clambake for your B.C. alumni, or you're off to Tasmania that week".
Treasurer of the Historical Society for the last 5 years and a member seemingly forever, Bill earned his Member of the Year award in 2013.
Bill was a founding member of HollistonReporter.com, after writing for several years for Mary Greendale's Holliston Net News. He was great at summarizing municipal meetings, but he excelled at "investigative reporting," often identifying just what people were wondering about for an article.
As a nominee to Kiss the Pig, votes for Bill brought in many votes (and contributions) to the Agricultural Commission.
Bill travelled to Orlando to learn how to improve Holliston's participation in the America in Bloom competition and participated every year as a member of the Holliston in Bloom Committee.
Bill holds on to the check donated to the Historical Society by TD Bank .
The HBA was another organization that Bill supported, along with the Lions and Boston College Alumni group.
Bill liked covering events in Holliston involving the arts, especially music, events at the Mill, or even Father Mark's Pet Blessing. When asked to cover routinue events like meetings at town hall, he would say "There's no story there". He would probably say the same thing about this article.
Bill taught us all how to live life to its fullest.
Good night, Bill. Say "Hi" to Ann Talbot for us.
He will be greatly missed. Our deepest sympathies to his family. He is and will always be a part of Holliston.
Laura (Sheldon) Sannicandro) | 2017-05-20 08:05:47
He was a wonderful man
Betty manach | 2017-05-19 08:45:16
Bill was a great guy to be around and work with. His enthusiasm for everything was positively contagious. It is hard to imagine Holliston without him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Please know how much he was admired and loved by his many friends and colleagues.
Barbara Kattman | 2017-05-18 23:20:23
Rest In Peace sweet Bill... you were one of a kind and will be be missed by everyone. Holliston will not be the same without you.
Lina Arena-DeRosa | 2017-05-18 16:43:07
I'm sorry to hear the sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Nancy O'Dea | 2017-05-18 15:12:40
So sorry to hear of your loss. Given the closeness and cheerfulness I saw among your family, I am sur this will leave a huge hole. But that only happens when there is much that was given and shared. Blessings and prayers. Kim Christopher
Kim. Christopher | 2017-05-18 14:50:02
Condolences to Bill's family and his co-workers. Surely a loss for small town Holliston.
Karen Chellquist | 2017-05-18 14:45:23
I am so very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. Out family's thoughts and prayers go out Bill's loving family.
Sarah commerford | 2017-05-18 09:50:07
A lovely tribute for a lovely man. Bill and his camera were present at all Holliston events throughout the years. Both will be missed very much.
Amy Porter | 2017-05-18 08:46:44
Bill was an official at the polls, and on some of those long, low-turnout local election days we could count on him to visit and spread cheer among the other workers. He and Ann Talbot, who sat at Precinct 1 check-in with her e-reader, were friendly faces always at the center of town workings. May they indeed meet again, in that affectionate "weekly" way.
Susan Woodrow | 2017-05-18 08:14:41
In a little different light, but just as meaningful, Bill was at my wedding Feb. 11, 1961. He attended it alone because his lovely wife, Ann, was in the hospital after delivering their first son, David, a day or two before. The Tobins lived next door to my family on Winthrop St. at that time. Since we had snow the day before, I was helping to shovel the driveway with my dad, Ed Hamlet. Bill commented, "Shirley, don't you have better things to do? Your wedding is tomorrow." Many times over the years we chuckled about it. Bill and I worked at General Motors, Chevrolet Motor Div. in Framingham. I will miss you Bill. Thanks for your friendship and the many chats. May you rest in peace in God's kingdom.
Shirley Chipman | 2017-05-18 07:50:18
Thank you for the fitting testimonial to one of Holliston's finest citizens. Bill will be sorely missed.
Nancy Karis | 2017-05-18 07:49:04
So very sorry to hear this. A terrible loss for everyone who was lucky enough to know him. Holliston just won't be the same.
Marilyn Horn | 2017-05-18 07:44:35
May Bill's memory be a blessing to his family and friends.
Michelle Zeamer | 2017-05-18 05:35:28
My first reaction is a lot of unprintable words. Why do the good ones always go first? I'm going to miss Bill. He always had a smile on his face, and he was a fixture at Historical Society events. He left Holliston a better place for his having been among us, and that's about all any of us can hope to do.
Peter Simpson | 2017-05-18 05:00:42
His passing is a dark day for our whole town. He gave so much and made Holliston a better place to live. My sincerest condolences to his family.
Heather DeLuca | 2017-05-18 04:32:14
Bill Tobin was a wonderful man! We enjoyed seeing him at all the many Holliston events. He will be sorely missed.
Susan and Charlie Russo | 2017-05-18 04:21:53
Thank you for a beautiful tribute. I first met Bill through the Reporter but then being a quiet presence in other places I travel around town he was there, but very friendly. I think a better word is unassuming. I will miss him RIP Bill Jean Morrissey
jean morrissey | 2017-05-18 04:19:13
Bill was a central street neighbor, friend, fellow lion and all around great guy. He was devoted to His wife, family and town. We are so Sad to learn about his passing. Prayers to you Ann and the family and holliston. We lost a great man.
Sandy Mack and Tom Mccann | 2017-05-18 03:21:21