William J. Knorr

William J. Knorr, 62, passed away unexpectedly Friday April 30, 2010 with Maureen J. Ahern, his wife and best friend of 33 years at his side. They were attending a writers conference in Boston, as Bill had just completed one of his lifes goals of writing a novel.

Born on January 9, 1948, he was the son of the late Edwin and Gladys Knorr. He was a gifted athlete, excelling at softball and football. He graduated from Albany High School, received several foot ball scholarships and attended Austin Peay University in Tennessee. This taste of southern culture fueled his desire to write and he went to the University of Buffalo to take classes in writing and literature. To further his cultural experience and knowledge he spent many months exploring the former Yugoslavia and Germany and received a BA in geography from The University at Albany. At the same time he became interested in the visual arts as an expression of human experience.

He was hired by the Albany Institute of History and Art where he honed his photographic skills and became a professional photographer. His work was shown in Antiques magazine and many fine art publications.

He married his wife in 1977 and in 1981 they moved to the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. Bill graduated from New England School of Law while his wife directed the art gallery at Keene State College. Bill had a private legal practice for many years. In 2001, the government of Georgia invited Bill to their capital, Tiblisi, to lecture on American copyright issues and legal standards in museum administration.

He left his practice to become privacy attorney for the NH State Department of Motor Vehicles in 2004.

Before attending the conference to present his novel, Bill was working part time as a special investigator for the NH Department of Education. His book is a fictionalized account, based on his experience, of how geography, class, culture, and human foibles can affect how various people choose to live their lives.

Bill loved the ocean and spent many hours bodysurfing in the waters of New England and abroad. He delighted his friends and family with his culinary skills while entertaining them with his wonderful stories and great humor.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister Marcia F. Knorr, and his niece, Michelle E. Perretta, both of Albany NY; several aunts, uncles, in laws, great nieces, nephews and many friends.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to your favorite charity.

A celebration of his life will take place from 1:00 to 4:00 PMon June 6, 2010 at the Keene State College Camp, on Wilson Pond in Swanzey. Please click here to see the map, or use the following directions:

FROM NORTH ROUTES 9, 10, and 12...Follow highway 9/10/12 to the traffic light at the intersection of ROUTE 101. Turn LEFT onto ROUTE 101 EAST. Continue through the ROUNDABOUT. At the next intersection turn RIGHT onto MAIN STREET/RT. 12. Follow directions FROM KEENE.
FROM SOUTH - ROUTE 12...ROUTE 12 NORTH towards Keene. After passing Pappagallo's Restaurant, TURN LEFT at NH-32 S/Old Homestead Hwy. Follow Rte 32 past the airport (on your right) and Wilson Pond (on your left). Approximately 200 yards past the end of the pond turn left onto Safford Drive. Safford Drive leads you to a stop sign intersection. Turn left here and proceed 100 yards and the camp will be on your right.
FROM WEST INTERSTATE 91...Traveling north on I-91, take EXIT 3 in Brattleboro, VT and follow ROUTE 9 EAST towards Keene. At second stoplight proceed straight ahead on ROUTE 101 EAST. Continue through the ROUNDABOUT. At the next intersection turn RIGHT onto SO. MAIN STREET/RT. 12. Continue on Route 12 south. Turn right on Route 32. Follow Rte 32 past the airport (on your right) and Wilson Pond (on your left). Approximately 200 yards past the end of the pond turn left onto Safford Drive. Safford Drive leads you to a stop sign intersection. Turn left here and proceed 100 yards and the camp will be on your right.
FROM BOSTON AND EASTERN MASSACHUSSETS...ROUTE 2 WEST to ROUTE 140 NORTH (Gardner, Mass.) To ROUTE 12 NORTH towards Keene. After passing Pappagallo's Restaurant, TURN LEFT at NH-32 S/Old Homestead Hwy. Follow Rte 32 past the airport (on your right) and Wilson Pond (on your left). Approximately 200 yards past the end of the pond turn left onto Safford Drive. Safford Drive leads you to a stop sign intersection. Turn left here and proceed 100 yards and the camp will be on your right.
FROM EAST ROUTE 101...ROUTE 101 WEST towards Keene. At the second traffic light turn LEFT onto SOUTH MAIN STREET/ROUTE 12. Continue on Route 12 south. Turn right on Route 32. Follow Rte 32 past the airport (on your right) and Wilson Pond (on your left). Approximately 200 yards past the end of the pond turn left onto Safford Drive. Safford Drive leads you to a stop sign intersection. Turn left here and proceed 100 yards and the camp will be on your right.

FROM KEENE...Take Main Street south from Keene; it turns into Route 12 south. Turn right on Route 32. Follow Rte 32 past the airport (on your right) and Wilson Pond (on your left). Approximately 200 yards past the end of the pond turn left onto Safford Drive. Safford Drive leads you to a stop sign intersection. Turn left here and proceed 100 yards and the camp will be on your right.

GPS/ON-LINE MAP USERS...The address for the College Camp is 19 Page Ct. Swanzey, NH. However, please follow the directions FROM KEENE as the turn from Rt. 32 onto Page Ct. is blocked and it is not reflected on most GPS or on-line map services.