Published March 15, 2019
MELROSE — William A. Reale Jr., 55, longtime Melrose resident, passed away from a sudden illness on Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
Bill was born on December 26, 1963 in Malden, one of four children of the late William A. and Ann M. (Shea) Reale. He grew up in Malden and graduated from Malden High School in 1981. While in school, he developed a love and passion for baseball and his love of sports continued throughout his life. After high school, he attended Salem State University, graduating in 1985.
While at Cerretani’s grocery store in Melrose, Bill met Lisa J. Cerasuolo. It was love at first sight and they knew they were soulmates. They later discovered that they were baptized at the same church, on the same day, at the same ceremony. Bill and Lisa went on to share another ceremony when they were married on June 5, 1988.
Bill worked as a Senior Project Manager for Collins Aerospace, and enjoyed his work there. He also loved being an entrepreneur and was able to achieve one of his lifelong dreams by starting his own business.
Without a doubt, though, Bill’s greatest joy was his family. He was unabashedly and overwhelmingly proud of his three boys and of his beloved wife, Lisa. He was endlessly devoted to them and especially active in their lives. He coached his sons in football and baseball, and never missed a school activity or sporting event.
A deeply motivated person, Bill worked every day to instill in his family the powers of positive thinking, lifelong learning, and hard work. When he had free time, he enjoyed reading about any topic that caught his interest in his endless quest for knowledge. He was fascinated by so many things and was always eager to share that fascination with anyone who would chat with him.
Bill was full of life and loved to travel. His favorite destination was anywhere he was with the people he loved, be it a different part of the country, a country music festival, or right at home. He was an outdoorsman and an avid sailor, and loved treating his family and friends to adventures in the woods and on the water.
As anyone fortunate enough to cross his path could tell you, Bill’s positivity and unfaltering smile were infectious, and could light up the darkest of rooms. Bill’s light and joy for life is not extinguished, though, as it lives on through his sons, his wife, and all those he has touched. He will be deeply missed.
Bill is the beloved husband of Lisa J. (Cerasuolo) Reale with whom he shared 30 years of marriage. Devoted father of Stephen Reale and his wife Magdalena Niedermeyer of Worcester, Bryan Reale, and Christopher Reale, of Melrose. Dear brother of Ann Marie Lombardi and her husband Tom of Newbury, N.H., Catherine Keene and her husband Dennis of Tubac, Ariz., Joseph Reale and his wife Jennifer of Arnold, Md., and brother-in-law John Cerasuolo of Malden. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor and remembrance of Bill’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Sunday, March 10 and again on Monday before leaving in procession to St. Mary’s Church, Herbert St., Melrose for his Mass of Christian Burial. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.
For online tribute, or directions visit RobinsonFuneralHome.com
