Obituary of William B. Helene

William Burr Helene passed away on January 20, 2016, surrounded by his family. Bill was born in Salamanca, NY, the son of Francis Elmer Helene and Mabel Clara Burr. After graduating from Salamanca High School in 1946, Bill enlisted in the US Army where he received basic training at Ft. Belvoir, VA and was stationed in occupied Japan. After his service Bill enrolled at Syracuse University where he graduated in 1955 with a degree in journalism. Bill married Margaret Deborah Stone on December 26, 1959 in Keyport, NJ. Bill and Margy’s lives together brought them from upstate New York to Summit and then Brookside, NJ, retiring in Orleans, Mass and their final year together at Juniper Village in Chatham, NJ. Bill began his career selling newspaper advertising space for the Syracuse Post Standard and quickly moved on to marketing positions with Dresser Manufacturing of Bradford, Penn., and then Goulds Pumps, of Seneca Falls, NY, where he served as advertising manager for a decade. While with Goulds Pumps, Bill created their “GP swirl” logo, which is still in use by the company to this day. Bill’s career progressed, and ultimately he served as President and partner of ADH Sales Support, a national marketing services company he helped create. Bill was a recognized leader in the business-to-business marketing field, earning recognition for his creative work from the Business Marketing Association and the Strategic Accounts Management Association, where he was an active member and contributor into his retirement. Bill and Margy enjoyed playing golf at Baltusrol and Eastward Ho! clubs, annual trips to Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and frequent visits from their children and grandchildren. Bill was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and his lineage reaches back to this nation’s earliest European settlers. Bill enjoyed oil painting, sketching, Syracuse basketball, art galleries, the scenic route, and “taking my own sweet time” in the supermarket. Bill’s singing voice may still echo in the halls of Juniper Village where he is fondly remembered by residents and staff alike. Bill will be remembered for his love of family, generosity, humor and boundless creativity. Bill was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Margaret, and his granddaughter Julia Grace Metzler. He is survived by his sister Dorothy Kerley of Naples, Fla., two sons, Andrew Helene of Brewster, Mass., William Helene and daughter-in-law Karen Helene of Cheshire, Conn., and his daughter Margaret Ann Metzler and son-in-law Edward Charles Metzler of Mendham, NJ. He is also survived by his grandchildren William Edward Metzler and Emily Elizabeth Metzler, both of Mendham, NJ, and Lucy Grace Helene of Cheshire, Conn. Services will be held at Hilltop Presbyterian Church, 14 Hilltop Road, Mendham, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday January 27th.