William Francis "Bill" Blacklock, 63, of Orlando, FL, passed away on November 3, 2023. Bill was a genuine, fun-loving individual whose warmth and infectious laughter fostered lifelong friendships and left an indelible mark on all he encountered. His ability to make friends easily and maintain those connections for decades spoke volumes about his character. Born on April 29, 1960, in Albany, NY, and also living in Philadelphia and the Adirondacks, he graduated in 1978 from the accelerated Electrical-Technical program at Mont Pleasant High School in Schenectady, New York.

Bill is survived by his devoted family: brother Doug Blacklock, and sister-in-law Patty Blacklock, nephew Doug; sister Kim Blacklock, nephew and godson Matai; sister Barb Laird, and brother-in-law Clark Laird, nieces Mackenzie and Cameron; and so many loving cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joan Blacklock and The Rev. Charles Blacklock, Jr., and his maternal and paternal grandparents, Hazel, Frank, Barbara, and Charles.

Bill's journey was one of diverse experiences and remarkable achievements. He proudly served in the Army from 1978 to 1982 as a Military Police officer stationed in Siegelsbach, Germany. Bill's commitment to duty exemplified his strong character, setting the stage for his subsequent successes. On his honorable discharge, Bill could have brought home a silver Mercedes sedan from Germany, but instead chose to rescue a German Shepherd, his friend for ages – Aly von den vier lumpen!

Post-military service, Bill Blacklock's career spanned a spectrum of technological advancements, from pioneering ATM installations for Key Bank to supervising software implementation for Select Ticketing in Syracuse, NY, Los Angeles and Germany. One of his more exciting experiences was being present in Germany for work on the actual day that the Berlin Wall fell! He took the most gorgeous photo of an East German soldier peeking through from the other side. Soon, his expertise in the software of events, ticketing and fund development helped the Kravitz Arts Center in West Palm Beach, FL. Bill went on to a 21-year career at AT&T from 1997 to 2018.

Deeply missed by his AT&T family, who reached out to share memories, they said Bill was a mentor to everyone. Friends and co-workers stated that everyone turned to him for help. Susan reminisced, "I received messages saying that there were people mimicking his leadership styles. He found ways to mathematically help all of his reps make their metrics."

"He was loved and respected by those of us lucky enough to work with him," states Debbie. Bill started out as a customer care representative, quickly rising through the ranks into management with the IT department – "a pretty big deal" says Leigh, "especially when he did it" – to become Senior Technical Director, overseeing the health of the websites. On the website testing team, AT&T launched their first mobile app in the Apple App store. They flew Bill to Cupertino, California's Apple campus to test the MYAT&T mobile app before it was launched! His colleague Debbie says, "He was definitely a rock star."

Outside the realm of work, Bill's heart beat to the rhythm of music, finding joy as an active member of his beloved Orlando Gay Chorus, where he sang with the tenor and then bass sections. His love for singing had begun at an early age, growing up as an infant with his family in an apartment attached to the All Saints Cathedral in Albany and then singing with the All Boy's Choir at St. George's in Schenectady. He rekindled this passion for music in OGC performances. He also began dedicating time for community service through OGC, notably his involvement in the Toys for Tots campaign, where he would spend hours with friends assembling hundreds of tiny donated bicycles for the kids. He served on the Orlando Gay Chorus Board of Directors with one year as Chairman and Co-Chaired their Membership committee. He was on the City of Orlando's "Come Out With Pride" (COWP) committee for 3 years and served as COWP Chairman for the Orlando Gay Chorus for 2 years. Bill was also the Bass Section leader for 4 years. It was always comforting to be able to easily pick him out of the far back row of the chorus, standing a full head above the others! His OGC community was family.

Bill also loved watching tennis and volleyball matches, going horseback riding, and spending time with his beloved dogs and cats. He had a deep appreciation for the arts and enjoyed going to shows and watching movies. His faith was a cornerstone of his life. At the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Orlando, he found solace and community, occasionally lending his voice to St. Luke's Choir.

A Requiem Eucharist to honor Bill's life will be held Saturday, December 16th at 11am at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke which is located at 130 North Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL. Streaming services will be available for those who cannot attend the funeral in person. Please check the Cathedral's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@CathedralChurchofStLukeOrlando on the date of the service to stream.

Bill Blacklock will be remembered for his kind heart, his keen intelligence, his great sense of humor, those blue eyes!!, and his ability to effortlessly spread joy. He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories, and will be deeply missed by all. Such a bittersweet time – bitter for us who have to say goodbye; sweet for his ancestors who are happy to welcome him home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Bill Blacklock to the Orlando Gay Chorus, an organization and community so very close to his heart. https://www.orlandogaychorus.org/give

Streaming service for the Requiem Eucharist is found at this link. Streaming will be live for the service and later available as a recorded service. Requiem Eucharist, Rite I, for Bill Blacklock