William S. Trapanick

William Trapanick of New Hartford, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare.  Bill was born and raised in Utica, by his parents Max and Osna Trapanick, and was a graduate of Utica Free Academy, Mohawk Valley Community College (1966) and Utica College (1969).  An accountant by trade, he worked at the Hunter House until he left to partner with his parents to manage the family business, Utica Fish Co. where he reveled in meeting with customers and making lifelong friends with the people he met along the way.  He continued to serve as a salesman for Smith Packing Co. until he retired in 2019. Throughout the years his free time was spent serving as an active member of Temple Beth El, volunteering at the Stanley Theatre, eating at local restaurants, and spending time with his family and lifelong friends, the Kukowskis and Marmelsteins. Bill, much like his parents, loved dancing, and he was great at it. He never met a dog that he didn’t like, and the feeling was always mutual, but he had a particular love for the dogs he owned over the course of his adult life, Sandi, Buddy, Rusty and Charlie.

He is survived by his loving partner of 26 years, Terri Hobson and her daughters, Denise Warlick and Lehanne Korninger; as well as his former spouse, Fran Miller and their children, Ben Trapanick of Boston, MA and Amy Brewer of Williston, VT and their families; and sister, Judy Szatmary of Savannah, GA, and her children, Heather and Ethan.  He took great joy in watching his grandchildren, Jack and Natalie Trapanick, Emmeline and Simone Brewer, and Paige and Riley Newman grow up and become young adults.

Services will be held on Thursday, September 7, at 12 noon at the Mark C. Bentz Funeral Service, Inc., 13 Oxford Rd, New Hartford, with a graveside service at Temple Beth El Cemetery, Whitesboro.  A calling hour will precede the service from 11 am – 12 pm.  Additional calling hours (Shiva) will take place on Thursday evening, 5 - 9 pm at 5 Lower Woods Road South, New Hartford.

Smoking causes lung cancer and can contribute to Alzheimer’s. The family knows Bill would not want either for anyone and would urge all who smoke or vape to start the process of quitting immediately (https://www.nysmokefree.com/) and encourage all to speak to the youth in their lives to help them to never become addicted to nicotine.  

The family would like to extend sincere gratitude to cousin, Hilda Kogut, neighbors, the Lashers and Friebergers, cousins, Tina and Guy Yacabelle, and friends Tom and Linda Kukowski whose love and friendship helped to affirm the importance of friends and family through good times and challenging ones. They would also like to acknowledge the kind and caring staff at Lutheran Care Active Day Adult Day Program and the team of doctors, Samir Desai, Christine Arenda and Chris Max who provided the care that Bill needed to live a meaningful life and enjoy everything that meant so much to him. The family requests that donations be made in honor of Bill’s memory to the Active Day Lutheran Home in Clinton, (315-235-7104) the place where he was able to find meaning and belonging as he dealt with the effects of dementia.

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