William "Bill" John Monahan

William "Bill" John Monahan

Aiken, SC-- It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William “Bill” Monahan, aged 79, on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Born in Staten Island, New York on June 25, 1946, he was the devoted husband to his high school sweetheart, Silvana Monahan (nee´ Lennard), also originally from Staten Island after arriving in the US from Italy.

Bill had a brief illness, and after 16 days, he was brought home, per his wishes, and had care removed. He wished to pass in his home that he and his wife had built in the countryside of Aiken, South Carolina. Bill passed very peacefully with his step son, Michael, and his wife by his side.

Bill was a Vietnam War Veteran, and an ardent supporter of veterans’ rights and visibility. He was rarely seen without either his VVA hat or his VVA jacket, both of which often propelled strangers to come up and thank him for his service and dedication. He embraced this warmly as this respect was missing in the days following the Vietnam War. As a Crew Chief aboard a Huey Helicopter he nicknamed (and painted the icon on it) The Pink Panther, he served in the US Army from May 1966 until May 1968, receiving an honorable discharge with the National Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and an Air Crewmember Badge.

Upon returning from the war, Bill worked at Western Union as a lineman for a long tenure. In the early 1980s he became a union carpenter with the Irish Carpenters’ Union Local 608. He worked all over New York City, but predominantly at the Jacob K. Javits Center and the World Trade Center, helping with the building of the structure, as well as many conventions over decades of work.

Bill met Silvana as young kids, growing up across the street from each other in Staten Island. They reconnected in the late 1970’s, and married on December 3, 1979. Together, they made homes in Staten Island, Matawan, NJ, Middletown, NJ, and then finally, their dream home in Aiken, SC.

The duo worked hard during their 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s to be able to enjoy a great retirement, which took them all over the world from Mexico, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, France, England, Greece, Montenegro, and of course, to Silvana’s home country of Italy where they vacationed often. In August of this year, they took a final trip back to Italy to see their family and enjoy Summer in the beautiful Tuscan seaside.

William Monahan is predeceased by his father, William Monahan Sr., and his sister Patricia Squire, and one of his two best friends, Greg Kreiger.

He is survived by his wife, Silvana Monahan, his two step sons and their spouses: William and Cathy D’Alessio of NJ, and Michael D’Alessio and Keith Bischoff of Florida. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Alyssa, Julianna, and Matthew D’Alessio. Additionally, he is survived by his mother Marion Monahan of NJ, his sister Margaret Monahan of NJ, his nieces Veronica Goldstein of NJ and Shannon Squire of FL, and his cousins Ed and Sandi Anderson, and Bill Anderson, all of GA, and Judy Anderson of NC. He is also survived by his best friend Paul Bausch of SC.

A gathering to celebrate Bill’s life will occur at the family home in Aiken, SC on October 25th. Please reach out to the family for details. In the coming months, a full Catholic Mass with Military Honors will take place in New Jersey. Please reach out to the family for details.

Making the decision to remove care and to come home from the hospital was Bill’s decision. He always said he didn’t want his life prolonged by artificial means, and he wanted to pass with his family and beloved dog, Molly, by his side. Silvana honored that wish, and he passed away peacefully after a brilliant, exciting, and rewarding life. Bill was a simple man who didn’t like a fuss, and the family is respecting that wish and instead, celebrating him the way he lived: simply, casually, and with laughter and good stories.