Rev. William M. Romer

Reverend William M. Romer of Acton, MA age 89 passed away peacefully on October 30, 2024. He is survived by his wife Molly, his five children and nine grandchildren.

Bill graduated from Albany Academy, Brown University and earned his Masters of Divinity degree from the Episcopal Divinity School in Albany, NY. To help offset his education expenses, he took a job as a railroad engineer, turning his childhood love of model railroading into an adult reality. Throughout his life, he never lost his desire for that avocation, at one time actually being a part owner of a fully operational, vintage railroad steam engine. He built many elaborate models at his various residences, including one on the grounds of his parish home while serving the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin group of parishes in Ireland from 2004-2009.

He was ordained, first as Deacon and, a short time later, as an Episcopal Priest. Bill’s first posting was in 1960, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, in Lake Luzerne, NY, followed by parishes in Hanover, MA, Guilderland, and Loudonville, NY, Cranston and Woonsocket, RI, Rochester and Laconia NH and, as mentioned, his five plus years in Ireland.

Bill also filled a number of executive positions in New York state government, retiring from that service in 1988.

He had a long and distinguished career, combining his love of railroading, his management training, and his devotion to the ministry.

In 2007, Bill and Molly settled in Acton where he became involved with the Acton Democratic Town Committee and as President of Audubon Hill Condominum Association where one of his neighbors and friends recently referred to him as an “institution”.

In addition to his love of reading, cooking and family, Bill was an incredible storyteller. But perhaps his greatest passion was being on Martha’s Vineyard, piloting his boat, working on his elaborate model train layout, or most often at the water’s edge, with his fishing pole in hand.

Services to be announced

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association
P.O. Box 3053
Martha's Vineyard, MA 02539
https://mvsurfcasters.org

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742  978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com