William Pelletier, Retired TAS Vice President, Dies of Cancer

Bill Pelletier with his wife, Heidi
Bill Pelletier with his wife, Heidi

Retired Local 100 Vice President William “Bill” Pelletier passed away April 23, 2020 after a battle with a rare, aggressive form of prostate cancer, that doctors believe may be related to his esposure to the air at Ground Zero.  He was 69 years old and had been retired since 2008.

Brother Pelletier had served as the elected Chair of Flatbush depot for two terms, as Brooklyn Division Chair, and as Vice President for TAS during his career with the union.  He also served on the Local 100 Executive Board and as an elected delegate to several TWU International Union conventions.

Long time friend, James Manzella, said, “I spoke to Bill Sunday night.  He was in the hosptial at Cornell Weill Medical Center in Manhattan.  He said the cancer had spread.  Now he’s gone.  He was a dedicated union rep and a wonderful man.  This is very sad.” Among his many duties as a union officer, Brother Pelletier coordinated the union’s campaign against the illegal dollar vans that caused traffic jams and unsafe conditions for Operators, as well as threatening bus service along Kings Highway and other Brooklyn neighborhoods.

His grieving wife, of 25 years, Heidi, said that Bill was diagnosed with the cancer in November of last year.  “Doctors were baffled on how to treat it because it was so rare.  They removed his entire prostate, and the initial results were very positive,” said Heidi.  “But it came back recently and spread very quickly.” She said that her phone has been ringing constantly since the word of Bill’s death got out.  “I think I spoke to every Bus driver in Brooklyn today,” she said with a laugh between her tears. “Retirement had been good for Bill.  He loved being a ‘pop pop’ to his four grandchildren,” she said.

The two met at a dance in the city years ago.  “We haven’t been apart since the day we met,” she said, and added, “Bill was the nicest person I ever knew.  He never had a bad word to say about anyone.  He couldn’t pass a homeless person on the street on in the car without stopping to help.  Traffic would be backing up, cars honking their horns, but Bill stopped to help always.”

Brother Pelletier graduated from Brooklyn Automotive High School.  He joined transit in 1980.  Since retirement, he has been an active member of the TWU Local 100 Retirees Association.

Local 100 President Tony Utano, said: “Bill was blessed with a big smile and a great personality, but when he was defending a member against management abuse, there were none tougher.  He contributed a lot to this union in so many ways.  He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”

In addition to his wife, Heidi, Brother Pelletier is survived by his two daughters, Michelle and Phyllis, and 4 grandchildren.  The family is planning a memorial at some time in the future after the current Coronavirus restrictions on gatherings are lifted.