Obituary
William Anthony “Bill” Regal was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 20th, 1942, the only child of Adeline Mahoney and Arthur Joseph Regal. He grew up Catholic in the South Hills section of Pittsburgh and was a proud fan of all of the Pittsburgh sports teams for his entire life. He attended Baldwin High School and went on to attain an undergraduate degree from Duquesne University, where he was in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. After the Air Force Bill spent his professional life as a Human Resources administrator, most often in health care settings, and he described his service as personnel director for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee as the high point of his career.
Even though Bill put on a business suit every day, his passion was in the arts. He had an amazing eye for photography and even turned his children’s bathroom into a darkroom so he could develop his own film. His photography earned him many awards in amateur photography competitions. As he continued to take pictures, he decided to start a new hobby of creating stained glass. Bill created Christmas ornaments, suncatchers, window panels, and even lamps. His children are proud to have many of his pieces displayed in their homes. As Bill became older and realized that his passion could have been a career, he preached to his children to make sure the “jobs” they chose were ones they loved and enjoyed.
Bill taught his children to value all people and show hospitality on all occasions. His kids count this a priceless gift along with a belief in the importance of hard work, integrity, and a never-ending, albeit often misplaced, faith in the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. Some of the most cherished memories for his children are Bill arranging for them all to go to Heinz Field to see Steelers games and to Steelers training camps in Latrobe, as well as Pirates and Penguins games.
Bill’s children, Theresa, Michael, and Patty, remember him fondly for organizing weekend neighborhood outings most often to Sandbridge in Virginia Beach, where they grew up. Late in life, Bill relocated and became a “Beach Pop” in and around Cape Coral and Sanibel Island, Florida. He got a tattoo and we feel confident he would have grown out his hair if that had still been possible. His grandchildren will always have fond memories of Pop and Mee-Maw in Florida and their house with the pool.
Bill passed away Saturday, July 23, 2022. He is survived by his wife Sandy, his three children Theresa Regal de Gallardo (Francisco) her children AJ and Abby, Michael Joseph Regal (Gillian) their children Malcolm, Oliver, Adeline, and Fiona, and Patricia Regal Hyman (Michael) their daughters Kennedy and Cali, and a son by marriage Jody Whitaker (Jessica), and their children Erika and Noah.
A celebration of life will be held in Virginia Beach in the summer of 2023 allowing all of Bill’s beloved family and friends to come together to share memories, laughter, and a Yuengling in his honor.
Pop Bill and Meemaw's Wedding in Key West, Florida
*June 1999*
Meemaw & Pop Bill's Wedding in Key West, Florida
June, 2000