MARLBOROUGH - William M. "Bill" Schneider, 75, of Marlborough, formerly of Sudbury, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at Oak Knoll Healthcare Center, Framingham after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Roberta J. (Craig) Schneider for the past 50 years. Bill was born in New York City, raised in North Bergen, N.J., and was the son of Dr. Louis A. and Dorothy N.(Ladrach) Schneider. He graduated from Weehawken High School in 1950 and later received his B.A. degree in accounting from New York University. Bill was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. He was vice president of finance for Computervision for many years, retiring in 1992. Previously, he was the controller for the former Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard, an electronics technician for Raytheon in Brooklyn, N.Y., and was vice president of finance at Colt Industries in St. Johnsbury, Vt. He was a member of St. Matthias Church. Bill was a world renowned collector and authority on U.S. Marine Corps Chevrons and had been writing a book, "The Definitive Reference Guide to Marine Corps Chevron History," which sadly remains unfinished. He had worked tirelessly to bring together the children who were born during World War II with their veteran fathers. On Feb. 5, 2002, he was awarded the Badge of Honor and U.S.-ROC Mutual Defense Commemorative Badge from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. He will be remembered as a loving, caring and kind man with a great sense of humor.
In addition to his wife he leaves two sons, Louis C. Schneider, Esq., of Las Vegas, Nev., Gregory W. Schneider of Hudson, and a daughter, Dawn K. Kalilainen of Marlborough; a brother Bernard Schneider, M.D. of Syracuse, NY and a sister Joyce Oshrin of New Jersey; four grandchildren, Caitlin and William Kalilainen, both of Marlborough, Austin Schneider of Las Vegas, and Madison Schneider of Huntington Beach, Calif.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Jan.16, at 10 a.m., in St. Matthias Church, 409 Hemenway Street. Burial will be at a later date. There are no calling hours. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services. Family and friends are welcome to sign Bill's online guestbook at www.SFCFH.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.