Bill Canino

    1948 - 2024

According to family, Bill  passed way in his sleep on the Celebrity Apex Cruise Ship.  The ship was piling into port when his wife, Cindy, discovered that he had passed away.  His death was recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Obituary:
William Joseph Canino, aged 75, passed away peacefully in his sleep, on September 9, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland, while traveling. Born on November 7, 1948, Bill, as he was affectionately known, lived a life marked by dedication to his family, his country, and his community.

A proud veteran, Bill served as a Sergeant in the Army during the Vietnam War, specifically in Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division. During his service from 1967 to 1969, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his bravery. Despite being wounded in battle, he humbly declined the Purple Heart, feeling others were more deserving of the honor.

Bill's professional life was deeply entwined with Canino Produce Company, a family business started by his parents in 1959. He started working there at 11 years old, working before and after school. He dedicated many years to the success of the business alongside his family members. He loved interacting with the customers and employees, positioning his desk outside in order to do so. Although he ventured into other roles in an attempt to spend more time with family, his heart always remained with the family enterprise where he worked until its closure in 2019.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Bill was a passionate individual with diverse interests, excelling at everything he did. He was an accomplished off-shore fisherman and boat captain, celebrated for winning two back to back fishing tournaments in the early eighties. His adventurous spirit led him to excel in snow skiing, where he won numerous races. He shared his love of the sport by teaching his wife, children, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to ski. 

Bill also embraced bicycling, completing the MS150 multiple times. His love of automobiles, motorcycles, and boats was evident by the shear volume and rate at which he bought and sold them. Later in life, he enjoyed working on projects at his home on Inks Lake and discovered a love for Aruba, visiting annually since 2017.

Bill loved to make people laugh. He was always looking for new comedic material, so that he was never without a funny story or joke to tell.  He also loved children, all children. His children's friends were always welcome in his home for dinners, holidays, and even vacations where he encouraged them to try new things.  Bill was known for his ability to fix things and was often called on by friends, neighbors, and family to help with repairs. He had a way of finding a solution for any problem, big or small.  He was the neighborhood Pop Pop, a title he cherished.

Bill leaves behind a legacy of love and mentorship, survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Cindy Canino; children, Natalie Canino McCauley and husband, Kristopher, William Joseph Canino Jr. and wife, Bryanna, and Brett Austin Canino and wife, Chelsea; siblings, Kristine Pilkinton, Michael Canino, Mary Ann Canino and wife, Stacey, Joe Paul Canino and wife, Meagan; brothers and sisters in law Judy and Larry Stephenson, Deborah and Darrell Sump, and Tammy Wieser; and cherished grandchildren, Nadia, Owen, Nora McCauley, and Benjamin and Lucas Canino.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Canino Jr. and Josephine Hughes, stepfather Charles Hughes, brother, Baby Boy Canino; father in law, Alfred Wieser, brother in law, Lawrence Pilkinton, sisters in law Shirley Coleman and Patty Dombrowski; and grandson Evan Parker McCauley.

A service to honor his memory will be held at Houston National Cemetery on November 1, 2024, at 1:45 PM. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Hospital or Tunnels To Towers.

Honorary Pall Bearers:  Mike Atkinson. Alfred Froberg, Chris Heinrich, Tom Krolczyk, Rick Lammers, Joe Orlando, Johnny Pennington, Larry Stephenson, Darrell Sump

Bill's life was a testament to his profound generosity, unwavering patriotism, and love for all people. He never met a stranger. His legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him.

Published by The Bay Area Citizen from Oct. 23 to Oct. 24, 2024.