Founder Macaskill Passes

Back on October 12, 1965, William Patrick Macaskill along with Elinor Dickenson, Richard & Nancy Erwin, Brother Dennis Goodman, Marilyn Harbord, Lloyd & Sonia Levitin, Donald & Jean Manuel, Bro. Wilfrid Mathew, Dorothy Mutnick and John & Gladys Shaly had the energy and vision to create the Moraga Historical Society.

Bill passed away on March 1st in Palo Alto, California. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and enjoyed the summer and winter landscapes of the Great Lakes region. He was musical and proficient enough on the trumpet to play for the Minneapolis Symphony while attending high school. While there he also earned the credentials to become an Eagle Scout.

World War II saw him joining the United States Marines as a paratrooper and was awarded the Purple Heart for the Pacific Island Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. Returning to civilian life he attended St. John's Univ. in Collegeville, MN, Loyola University and University of Chicago, IL. Receiving his B.S. in philosophy & M.S. in Library Science he later found himself in Moraga as the chief librarian and professor at Saint Mary's College. In 1973 he became Director of the Monte Villa Hospital in Morgan Hill in 1973. Very active in the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill he was co- founder of RotaCare Bay Area, which provides free medical care for the poor as well as migrant workers. In addition, he was a volunteer for Suicide Prevention and the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency.

Moving on to Gilroy, CA he was forever the outdoorsman enjoying hunting and was a champion target shooter. A dog and horse lover. He also raised chickens sheep, rabbits, and peafowl. He was an avid reader and had a passion for music, military history and enjoyed building and repairing things in his work shop. The Society sends sympathies and condolences to his family and friends. Donations may be sent to RotaCare Bay Area, P.O. Box 187, Gilroy, CA.