Obituary
In Loving Memory of William E. McDermott, Jr.
August 29, 1939 – October 19, 2025
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, William E. “Bill” McDermott, Jr., 86, of The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on August 29, 1939, in Montclair, New Jersey, Bill was the son of the late William and Rose (Flannery) McDermott. He grew up in Dunkirk, New York, and graduated from Cardinal Mindszenty High School in 1957. Shortly after, he proudly served in the United States Navy.
On August 27, 1966, Bill married the love of his life, Angela DeJohn, with whom he shared 59 wonderful years of marriage. Together, they raised their family in West Orange, New Jersey, before retiring to The Villages in 2014.
Bill is survived by his devoted wife, Angela, and their children: daughter Shelley Cascio and her husband Dan, of Wimauma, FL; and son Corey McDermott and his wife Angela, of Fruitland Park, FL. He is also lovingly remembered by his granddaughter Lauren Biccum and her husband Joe, of Seminole, FL, and his cherished great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Lucas Bifano, Ashton Losey, and Sophie and Oliver Brentlinger.
He was preceded in death by his beloved son, William “Billy” McDermott III, who tragically passed away in 1997.
Bill began his professional journey in banking, but his entrepreneurial spirit soon inspired him to pursue business ownership. He earned his degree in Finance from Rutgers University in 1971, laying the foundation for a diverse and successful career. Bill proudly owned The Original Cycle Center in Roseland, NJ, and later opened The Village Bike Shop in South Orange, NJ. Concurrently, he built a distinguished career in real estate with Prudential Realty, where he was widely respected for his dedication, integrity, and professionalism, earning numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
Above all, Bill was most proud of his family. He took great joy in the lives his children and granddaughter built, and their accomplishments were his greatest source of pride.
An avid sports fan, Bill had a particular love for bowling and golf. He spent 15 fulfilling years working at Pimlico Golf Course in The Villages, where he enjoyed meeting new people daily and built lasting friendships with his coworkers. One of his greatest joys was traveling to Aruba—his favorite destination—where he spent several weeks each year for over forty years, creating cherished memories with family and friends. Bill was known for his integrity, warmth, humor, and remarkable gift for storytelling, leaving a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
He is also survived by his loving sisters: Fran Marsh and her husband David, of Maricopa, AZ, Nancy Cobian, of Bethlehem, PA, and Leslie Belmondo and her husband David, of Girard, PA. He will be missed by his sister-in-law Sandra Mackowiak, of Fredonia, NY, and brother-in-law Richard DeJohn of Lake Placid, Fl along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Judith Cross; brothers-in-law, Robert Mackowiak, Frank DeJohn, and Oscar Cobian; and his sister-in-law, Shirley (Gervase) DeJohn.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home, 1008 Bichara Blvd. The Villages, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Bill’s memory to Cornerstone Hospice at cornerstonehospice.org.
Service
1008 Bichara Blvd
Visitation
1008 Bichara Blvd
Love you forever, you are Angel now as you always were. ♥️
Your love for your family was one of the purest reflections of God’s own love. You showed me what it means to love your family unconditionally . Your love was steady, your wisdom deep, and your faith unwavering.
Though I will miss your smile, your STORIES, and your presence with us, I will take comfort in knowing that you are at peace-resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father. We know this isn’t truly goodbye, but “see you later.”
I was fortunate to get to know my father-in-law, Bill, very well over the past few years. We shared a deep and lasting bond through our love for his daughter, Shelley, whom he always fondly called “our girl.” Bill was not only the best father-in-law I could have hoped for, but also a true friend. He will be deeply missed—especially in Aruba, where so many wonderful memories were made.