Sylvester William (“Bill”) McCormack, age 88, passed away on June 14, 2024. Bill grew up at 340 Highland Avenue, in the Edgeworth section of Malden. While having raised his family in Rowley, his heart had never really left Malden.
Bill was a standout at Malden High School, a captain of the Golden Tornadoes Varsity Hockey team and pitcher for the Blue Bombers Varsity Baseball team. He went on to become a pitcher for the semi-pro ranks Malden City Club, Ralph Wheeler, and Cape Cod League and was described as a “classy southpaw” in one of multiple newspaper articles. He received a full baseball scholarship for Boston University where he played baseball, yet his primary love was for “the game of ice hockey.”
Bill was a 1960 graduate of Boston University. He was a three year letterman for the BU Terriers NCAA championship ice hockey team and its co-captain from 1959-1960, when he was recognized as an all-team season points leader. That same year, he was on the Beanpot championship team.
Career wise, Bill was a popular science teacher at Beebe Junior High School in Malden and the Malden High School Varsity hockey coach. His team won the Greater Boston League Championship in 1973 and 1974. Bill was inducted into the Malden High School Hall of Fame in 1992, in recognition of his outstanding ability as an athlete and coach.
During the summer months, he was an ice hockey skills instructor for future promising professional hockey players, including his own son. In retirement, he worked on the grounds of the Ferncroft Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf every chance he could get.
While living in Rowley, he was on a first name basis with those in the town hall, bank, grocery store, gas stations, bakery, automobile repair shop etc. His neighbors thought the world of him. He brought humor, the gift of gab and joy to every person he met, stranger and friend alike.
Bill had traveled to many places with his wife Nancy including Bermuda, Italy and Yugoslavia. His most cherished trip was to Yokohama, Japan to visit his son William (“Bill”) McCormack and his son’s mother-in-law Shinkosan, wife Shukuko McCormack and their daughters, Aimi and Elena McCormack.
Sadly, Bill’s son, his namesake, pride and joy passed away on June 8, 2024, a mere six days before his own passing. Bill’s son was, in his own right, an outstanding hockey player, having played division I ECAC ice hockey for the University of Vermont, as well as having been an international hockey player and a 10th round draft pick for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sylvester William “Bill” McCormack is the beloved father of Kara McCormack of Ludlow, Massachusetts and Kate McCormack-Reznicek of New Hampshire; the beloved grandfather of Christian Digenova of Ipswich, Massachusetts, Henry Reznicek of New Hampshire, and Aimi and Elena McCormack of Yokohama, Japan. In addition to his son, Bill was predeceased by his wife, Nancy (Brown) McCormack; by his sisters, Julia Gilligan, Joanne Frahm and Patricia Welch, and by his sister-in-law, Shigeko Brown, all of whom he treasured. He will be sorely missed by his children, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, the Gilligan, Frahm and Lane families, brothers-in-law Jeffrey Brown and Peter Brown (Trudy), all of whom held a special place in his heart. He will also be missed by his friends, half siblings, cousins and many former hockey players. Relatives & friends are invited to attend visiting hours at the Breslin Funeral Home, 610 Pleasant St., Malden on Thursday June 20th from 4-7 PM. A period of reflection on Bill’s life will begin promptly at 6 PM. All are welcome to speak during the reflection. Services will conclude with interment in Main Street Cemetery in Rowley on Friday June 21st at 11 AM. Those who wish to attend will meet just inside the gate of the cemetery upon arrival. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Brookhaven Hospice, 59 Interstate Drive, Suite 8, West Springfield, MA 01089.