William Kenneth McElheny

Greece:  passed July 18, 2024 at age 77.  He is survived by his wife, Beverly (Rice/Huss); two beautiful and caring daughters, Tracy (Sam) Murray and Kelly (Peter) Wisley; two grandsons, Christopher and Matthew Wisley. 

Bill proudly served 24 years with the Army Reserves – 98th Division, Goodman St. retiring in 2006 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

Bill grew up in Irondequoit, graduating from Eastridge High school.  He’s always been a hard worker.  As a teenager, Bill started working many jobs including for his dad’s businesses. He was introduced to boating by his parents.  Throughout his life Bill had a love for dogs and cats.

Bill, also Mac to some, had many passions.  In 1982, at a local ski area, a mutual friend introduced Bill and Bev.  The next winter they began skiing together, locally with friends and actively with the Rochester Ski Club and the Kodak Ski Club, enjoying many memorable ski trips in eastern and western US, and in Canada.

After Bill and the girl’s mom, Kathy Phelps, divorced, Bill purchased his first cabin cruiser naming it the TRA-KEL, after daughters Tracy and Kelly.  Boating was a true love of Bills.  He and Bev’s first date was a boat ride.  Over the years, they docked and spent many hours on the Genesee River, and with the girls and friends cruised to other ports on Lake Ontario with Toronto Island in Canada being a favorite spot. On the west side of the river, Bill was known to his boating friends as the mayor of Riverview.  

As Bill was getting ready to retire after 31 years at Eastman Kodak, he started working at Riverview marina and worked on the Spirit of Rochester.  While doing that he earned his 100 ton captain’s license.  After the owner of Riverview passed, Bill ventured to the east side of the river to dock at Voyagers and worked at the marina and until his early 70s on the Harbor Town Belle.

After selling the TRA-KEL, he and Bev ventured into camping with a trailer at Woodstream CampSite, where they spent weekends with family, made new friends, and watched Chris age 3, and Matt, 13 grow for the next 10 plus years.

Bill was born on August 23, 1946.  He passed after living valiantly with liver disease. He was predeceased by his parents, William F. and Edna L. (Owens) McElheny, his brother Albert McElheny, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a brother-in-law, Mike Rice. 

In addition to his wife of 35 years, his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandsons, he is survived by his sister, Penny McElheny of Clifton Park, N.Y., his brother’s family, Bev’s sister Debby and brother Mark, and their families, his ‘adopted son’ Doug Phelps, cousins, and many long time and very dear friends.

Thank you to the doctors, excellent nurses and other caregivers on the 2400 and 4300 units at Unity hospital.  A huge thank you to our niece, Cassie Rice, a nurse at Unity who helped us get through his long hospitalization.  We appreciated the compassionate care he received the last week of his life at the Fairport Baptist Homes.

It’s been a wonderful and memorable adventure, cut way too short.  Bill was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, brother, in-law, uncle, nephew and good friend to many.  He will forever be loved by many and deeply missed. 

Friends may call Thursday, (July 25^th) 12-2 PM at Vay-Schleich and Meeson, 1075 Long Pond Road, where his Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM.

Private Interment.  Contributions may be made to the Open Door Mission or the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm in his memory.