William Nicholas Fanos Jr., lifelong resident of Greenwood Lake, passed away on Saturday, July 4, 2020, at St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick after a valiant struggle for independence with Dementia. He was 77 years old.
The son of William N. and Marguerite Hansen Fanos Sr. and brother of Martin J. Fanos, he was born on March 23, 1943, in the Bronx.
As a young child he was introduced to the joys of swimming, fishing, boating and family time offered by Greenwood Lake, first as summer resident of Furnace Brook in the early 1950’s and later as a fulltime resident with his wife Miriam Fanos since 1975.
“Bill,” as everyone knew him, was raised in the Clason Point section of the Bronx, graduating from James Monroe High School and later from RCA Institutes. He went to work for Loral Electronics Corporation, Local 431, a defense contractor, later acquired by Lockheed Martin.
Bill was always proud he played a small role in helping to keep our country on the cutting edge of technology during the height of the Cold War, working primarily on the F-111 & F-15 fighters. He was especially proud to be an American and live in this great country.
Bill was a longtime active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Greenwood Lake. He served the church as an usher and regularly donated his time to help serve food at the Pancake Breakfast over the years. Above all, his deep relationship with God was embodied in his warm smile, honest dealings and his desire to always help family, friends and strangers in need.
He will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure of his company, especially his son William Fanos III and his wife Jaclyn of Warwick, his grandchildren Ava, Gia and Emme Fanos and finally his daughter-in-law’s parents Gary and Joann Mele of Fairfield, N.J. Bill is also survived by six sister-in-laws and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held July 9 at Strong Basile Funeral Home, 4 Oak St., Greenwood Lake.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated July 10 in the Holy Rosary Church in Greenwood Lake.
Burial was in St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Warwick.
Arrangements by Strong Basile Funeral Home (845-477-8240 or www.ocfuneralhomes.com).