William Schleiff

Bill Schleiff passed away on July 15, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family and friends. He was the beloved husband of Marie for 57 years. Born in Weymouth, he was the father of Jayne Elizabeth and Judith Marie and the grandfather extraordinaire to Dante, Nico, and Arianna. He was the son of the late Carl and Martha Schleiff of Weymouth.

Bill graduated from Weymouth High School in 1964, where he played football and, with his team, went on to be state champions. Bill also was a wrestler and was proud to participate in the New England championships. He graduated from Curry College, where he captained the football team. In 1969, Bill and Marie married and began a life filled with challenges, adventures, and wonderful times with so many friends and family.

After college, Bill was a much-loved teacher in the Weymouth school system. He began his career at the Thomas B. Nash Elementary School, where he formed a fun-loving and successful football team. This was followed by a challenging but rewarding teaching experience at the Weymouth Alternative High School. Many of his students continued to reach out to him to the present time. After the closing of the school, Bill ended his career at the Abigail Adams Middle School. As a science teacher, he delighted his students with classroom adventures and experiential learning. During his teaching career, he earned a master’s degree from UMass-Amherst.

In the mid-’70s, he established his first pet shop. This was followed by two more pet businesses and Doggieritaville, one of the first doggie day care establishments in the area. Both businesses were successful for more than 40 years and are now run by his two daughters.

Bill had a lifelong love of the ocean. His cruising adventures took him, Marie, and pals John and Gerard, up and down the East Coast, from Florida to Canada to the Great Lakes. He loved all his different boats and enjoyed purchasing a new boat every few years, each one fondly named “Family Affair.”

Bill was a life member of Town River Yacht Club and proudly served as commodore during the club’s 100th anniversary and arranged many wonderful events. The club was a second home for more than four decades.

Bill built his first home in Weymouth in 1973, and he and Marie raised their family there for more than 20 years. Always looking for a challenge, Bill, with the help of family and friends, built his grand retirement home in 1996 on Atlantic Hill in Hull. The family spent 30 wonderful years entertaining and enjoying the extraordinary views of Nantasket Beach. They recently downsized to a home on the top of Spinnaker Hill on Spinnaker Island, again enjoying the ocean air. During his retirement, Bill spent many years helping to keep the doors open to the historic Paragon Carousel. From 2008, he was delighted to be the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus to thousands of carousel visitors of all ages.

Bill approached life as a risk-taker, but with humor and hard work, always determined to succeed in his varied undertakings. He was well-known to many for his warmth and generosity.

Survived by his wife, Marie, sisters Marie Rudd and Martha Schleiff, and brother in-law Robert Morse and his wife, Nancy, he was predeceased by his much-loved brothers, Carl and Bobby Schleiff. He was the Girl Dad to Jayne Schleiff (Kristin Perry) and Judy Tordiglione (John) and the devoted Bubba to Dante, Nico, and Arianna Tordiglione. He was a friend and uncle to six nieces and two nephews.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church in East Weymouth. Graveside services will follow in the Hull Village Cemetery, which overlooks the ocean and bay. Visiting hours with the family were held on Wednesday at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home in North Weymouth.

Bill will be missed by his many friends and acquaintances.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Friends of the Paragon Carousel at www.paragoncarousel.com.