Bill Mowatt – A Life Of Caring And Giving To Easton And Oliver Ames Sports

This past Friday night, at the Oliver Ames High School home boys'
basketball game, there was a moment of silence and a tribute held for a very special man.  

That man was William "Bill" Mowatt, the number one OA Tiger fan of all time. 

Bill Mowatt loved OA and he loved Easton, and he gave tremendously of
himself to both institutions. 

Mowatt, who lived in Easton since childhood, passed away two Saturdays ago at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.  He was 71 years old and had been battling lymphoma for 11 years.

“He fought lymphoma well, and so many times he bounced back and refused to let it beat him,” said his wife of 45 years, Marilyn.  “I think though that he finally just got so tired following the chemo and all the treatment.”

The tribute to Bill at the OA game included giving to Marilyn – Bill's companion at so many of the Tiger games – a bouquet of flowers and a life-time pass to all Hockomock League sports events.  

OA and Easton have surely lost a wonderful friend and an ardent supporter.

Bill Mowatt also leaves a daughter, Michelle, and a son, Michael; three
sisters, Eunice Harrison, Virginia Ginger Hinchliffe, and Claire Karvonen; and two brothers ,Jack and Larry Mowatt.  Bill was the brother of the late Mary Maher. 

I think Bill Mowatt might have had it all figured out, and understood how to balance family, work, civic sacrifice, community, fun, comfort, faith, and giving.  

Nah, I don't think...I know he had it all figured out. 

Bill was nine years old when his family moved to Easton from Boston.  A 1961 graduate of OA, he was a member of the 1960 undefeated and untied OA football team.  When he was senior at OA, schoolmates fixed him up on date with an OA sophomore and Easton native, Marilyn Chace.  The two hit it off. 

After high school, Bill served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, and came back to Easton to take a job with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brockton, and then became an underwriter for Blue Cross Blue Shield, a position he held for 31 years. 

Bill and Marilyn wed in 1967 in a ceremony at Immaculate Conception
Church on Main Street.  Forty-three years ago they bought their home on Seaver Street which is a stone throw away from the woods of Sheep Pasture.

Bill was a member of civic organizations in Easton, including the Knights Of Columbus.

Bill Mowatt was known as an Oliver Ames High School fan without peer.  He attended all the Tiger sports competitions.  Rooting for OA was in his
soul; it was part of the essence of his being. 

Marilyn would attend the OA basketball and soccer games with her
husband.  Bill and Marilyn took in Stonehill College varsity basketball home games together.   Bill was also a consistent presence at  Stonehill College football home games.  

“Bill used to call it a cheap date,” said Marilyn. 

In 2010, Bill and Marilyn were recognized by the Oliver Ames Basketball Boosters as the “Fans Of The Decade.”

For many years, right up until his early 50s, Bill was an avid runner, putting in mile after mile with fellow Eastonites, among them two guys from Baldwin Street, John Fresh and Art Barrett.   Bill Mowatt completed three marathons. He also golfed, cross country skied, and walked. 

Bill and Marilyn were weekly communicants at Immaculate Conception Church.  They enjoyed traveling, especially throughout the U.S. Northeast, and visited Pennsylvania Amish country many times.   The couple liked to eat out. 

When Bill Mowatt retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield, he kept busy working
for Larry Mowatt & Company Construction, which his brother owned.  Bill also managed to stay tied to recreation in Easton, and to the pulse of the town. In retirement, he did groundskeeping at Frothingham Memorial Park. 

Bill Mowatt loved and gave of himself to our town, and day in and day
out in his life he was tied body and soul to Easton. 

Bill Mowatt was fortunate that he lived in a place and among people that meant so much to him, and which fulfilled his life. 

In that Easton had Bill Mowatt, its residents were fulfilled as well.

Godspeed, Bill. You are missed.