William "Bill" F. Gladhill

William (Bill) F. Gladhill, age 44, passed away peacefully in the arms of his wife Jennifer, on April 14, 2022. He was the only child of William E. Gladhill and Donna (Waterman) Gladhill.

Bill attended Portsmouth schools and graduated in 1995. He attended University of Vermont and graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in 1999, a dual major of Political Science and Latin and a dual minor in history and Ancient Greek. He went on to University of New Hampshire to receive his Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2005.

He loved his hometown of Portsmouth and served on many boards. His two favorites were the Planning Board and the Historic District Commission, both of which he served on from 2010 – 2016. He spent many hours preparing for meetings to be knowledgeable on the subject matter brought before the boards. He took his position on these boards seriously and wanted to preserve the historic nature of Portsmouth. He also served on the Mayor’s Blue-Ribbon Committee on Housing in 2008. The Portsmouth Economic Development Commission from 2004 – 2010. Portsmouth Advocates – Board of Directors 2005 – 2010. Capital Improvement Plan sub Committee 2010-2013.

Bill worked at the Home Depot in Portsmouth where he met his beloved wife Jennifer. He made many friends working there and those friendships meant the world to him. Bill was accepted into the apprentice program at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He graduated in 2016 in Shop 31 – Inside Machinist.

From 2018 to present he worked in the Business and Strategic Planning Office and it was without a doubt his dream job. He loved going to work and he enjoyed the people he worked with.

Bill married Jennifer on October 17th 2015. Surrounded by friends and family at Clay Hill Farm. They moved to York September 2016 and he quickly made York his home. He studied it and learned the history of it.

Bill was a collector of memories. He was sentimental and thoughtful. He was smart and was always picked first for trivia games. He could name the Presidents in order, as well as the Vice Presidents. He loved the Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution, both of which he could recite. He had them in book form and as apps on his phone. He loved Presidential History and he made it a point to visit Presidential homes. In one day, he visited Jefferson’s, Madison’s and Monroe’s homes, which was exhausting but something he was proud of. He loved the musical Hamilton and was so excited to bring his grandson Kooper, daughter Rachel and wife to see it in Boston. He loved animals. He spoiled and loved his three cats. He saved a gold fish. He loved an unlovable turkey.

Bill is preceeded by his maternal grandparents Franklin and Olga Waterman and his paternal grandparents, Lillian and Marshall Peele. Bill lost his beloved cat JC (Jenny Cat) this past year.

He leaves behind, his wife Jennifer and two cats Tonks and Winter of York, Maine. His parents Bill and Donna Gladhill of Portsmouth, NH. His three stepchildren Kate McFarland, her finance Josh Olson and their children Andrew, Sam and Chloe, Josiah McFarland, Rachel Stinson her husband David Stinson and their children Kooper and Connor.

In lieu of flowers, Bill wanted people to donate in his name to The Jimmy Fund and Island Dog Rescue. The Jimmy Fund because he was always amazed at the brave children he saw going through treatments at Dana-Farber and Island Dog Rescue. https://islanddogrescue.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=1840&pg=personal&px=2319745

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