- Date Of Birth: August 13, 1926
- Date Of Death: June 9, 2011
- State: Maryland
William “Bill” John McGeehan, age 84, of Taneytown, Maryland, died on Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Carroll Hospice Dove House in Westminster.
Born August 13, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late John and Sarah (Fox) McGeehan. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dorothy L. (Cobb) McGeehan.
Bill was educated at West Catholic Boys School and at LaSalle College as part of the law program. He became a monk after receiving his training at the Christian Brothers Seminary in Ammendale, Maryland. Bill’s two brothers were in the service, and he, too, enlisted in the army. When asked what field he would like to serve in, he chose the position of General MacArthur’s photographer. He was sent to Japan and loved being on General MacArthur’s staff, as well as the General himself. He also had a great love for the Japanese people he encountered there. Upon his return to the states, he worked for Photo Arts Studio of Philadelphia, where his main responsibility was photographing the sailors at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Bainbridge, Maryland. It was at Photo Arts in Philadelphia that he met his wife Dorothy. They were married May 28th, 1955. Bill was employed by Chrysler Corp as a City and District Manager. It was because of this job that they relocated from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Maryland. Dottie and Bill founded and operated a photographic studio on Liberty Road in Randallstown, Maryland called Dorothy Cobb Studios. They started photographing their children’s Liberty Road Rec teams, and before long, they had a very active business. Between Dottie and Bill, they photographed over one thousand weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, sports teams, and school classes. To this date, their son and daughter-in-law are continuing the business.
Bill and Dottie and family were active in the Holy Family School and Church in Randallstown, Maryland. After retiring, Bill and Dottie moved to Cold Saturday in Finksburg, where they attended Sacred Heart Church in Glyndon. Approximately seven years ago, they moved to Carroll Vista in Taneytown, Maryland, where Bill and Dottie were both concierges at the community clubhouse. While living there, Dottie and Bill attended St. Joseph Church in Taneytown, Maryland. For their 50th anniversary, Dottie gave Bill a shuffleboard table, and they opened their home every Saturday to the Community. Along with these friendly shuffleboard games, Bill also loved music, especially classical and opera.
Two and half years ago, Bill became ill and his home became Carroll Lutheran Village. He was known as the “song bird,” as singing was his way of communicating.
Surviving in addition to his wife are four children, Jeffrey William McGeehan, Dennis Matthew McGeehan, Jeanette Marie Jeffrey and husband Scott, and Gregory John McGeehan and wife Erin (Connor); grandchildren, Shawn, Matthew, Hannah, Sarah, Dailey, and Connor; siblings, Sally Coulter, Dr. Jack McGeehan, Thomas McGeehan, and Mary Reznichek.
