Palm City - Palm City - William F. Collins, Jr. of Palm City, FL, 89, formerly of Marblehead, MA, passed away peacefully on September 17th, at Treasure Coast Hospice, after a brief illness. He was born in Lynn, MA on November 4, 1935. He was the son of William F. and Mabel (Murphy) Collins of Peabody, MA.

Bill was a graduate of St. John's Preparatory School, class of 1954, where he played varsity football. He received his B.S. in Business from Providence College in 1958. He received an honorable discharge from the US Army, serving in both Ft. Dix, NJ and Ft. Sill, OK. He was a member of the National Guard in Salem, MA.

Bill was a sales representative for Hallmark cards before joining Hamblet & Hayes Co., a chemical manufacturer and distributor. In 1979, Hamblet & Hayes Co. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ciba-Geigy Corp., a pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer based in Basel, Switzerland. Shortly after, Bill was named President and CEO of Hamblet & Hayes Co.

Bill was very involved in various community activities. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Naumkeag Trust Co. and of Eastern Bank. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the North Shore Medical Center and the St. John's Preparatory School and was a member of the Tanner's Council of America.

Bill enjoyed playing golf and was a long-time member of Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, MA and Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart, FL. He served on the Board of Directors at both clubs. He was also a former member of the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. In his free time, Bill especially loved coaching his kids and their friends in Marblehead Youth Sports.

Bill was very devoted to his family. He will be remembered for his generosity, warmth, kindness and smile. He will be profoundly missed.

Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joan H. Collins; his children William Collins and his wife Shannon of Big Sky, MT, Thomas Collins and his wife Ann Lee of Boston, MA, and Susan Baker and her husband Kevin of Milton, MA; He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren: Kelly Collins, Meghan Ragno, Bobby Baker, Casey Collins, Jack Baker and Elizabeth Collins. Also, his sister Marie K. Collins predeceased him.

There will be a memorial mass for William on Wednesday, October 8th at 11am at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City, FL.

Contributions in memory of Bill can be made to the Sandhill Cove Foundation, 1500 SW Capri Steet, Palm City, FL 34990.