William "Bill" P. Averill, formerly of Cobleskill, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2026, in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Born on May 9, 1950, in South Dakota to Carl and Dorothy Averill, he traveled with his family to multiple Air Force bases around the globe, spending the bulk of his childhood in Rome, New York.

Bill dedicated his entire life to the service, protection, and education of his community. He began his service in the United States Air Force, being stationed at Ubon Air Force Base, Thailand, during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged, Bill explored his love of music. He toured the East Coast as a bass player in the band C-Breeze. While touring, he met his loving wife of 33 years, Kathy. Together they created a life in Schoharie County, raising two daughters, until Kathy's passing in 2010.

Bill will be remembered by many for his 40+ years of service in emergency medicine. He began as a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Cobleskill Fire Department and Rescue Squad while working at Interknitting and then Cobleskill Regional Hospital. It was during this time that Bill found his true calling, becoming a dedicated Paramedic and EMS Coordinator for Schoharie County, until his retirement in 2013. Bill was a steady, comforting presence in the face of chaos, directly saving countless lives and providing critical care to people on their worst days. His quick thinking and profound empathy defined his career on the front lines of emergency medicine. Beyond his work in the field, Bill possessed a passion for passing on his knowledge. As a beloved educator and mentor, he trained the next generation of first responders. He poured his heart into teaching, ensuring that his legacy of skill, compassion, and precision would live on through the countless students he inspired. To his students, he was more than an instructor; he was a guiding light who instilled the true meaning of public service.

When he wasn't under the flashing lights of an ambulance or at the front of a classroom, Bill loved listening to music, often saying, "It's nothing without the bass." He was an avid reader, Ham radio operator, and aspiring master of crossword puzzles. His infectious humor, compassion, and fierce loyalty will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

In 2017, Bill received the amazing gift of organ donation, receiving a double-lung transplant due to complications from Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was so grateful to his donor, their loved ones, and to his doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, who gave him many extra years with his family. He beat all odds of organ donation, continuing to inspire his medical team with each visit. Bill was cared for tirelessly by his wife of 11 years, Maria, moving to West Virginia in 2020, where he spent his final years quietly tinkering around the house, creating culinary masterpieces in the kitchen, and having endless deep conversations about life.

He is survived by his loving spouse, Maria Averill; his children, Chantel (Jason Mrozik) and Aimee (Joseph Schlereth); his grandchildren Elisa, Ava, Jacob, Elijah, Paige, Kylie (Mrozik), Averill and Eben (Schlereth); Maria's children, Matthew, David (Hyejin) Cartwright and granddaughter, Irina; brother Alaen Averill, brother and sister-in-laws and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Kathryn Averill, his parents and three brothers.

A private graveside service will be held on a future date, as Bill donated his body to research. He ensured he could still teach others, even after his passing. A memorial page has been set up on the Mereness-Putnam website. His daughters request that anyone who would like to honor their father pay their respects on this page, sharing any stories of his life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Cobleskill Fire and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 697, Cobleskill, NY 12043, or the Cleveland Clinic Transplant Memorial Fund, Cleveland Clinic/Philanthropy Institute, PO Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655. Please specify the donation is for the Transplant Memorial Fund.