William Frederick Meagher

William F. "Bill" Meagher, 71 of Winter Park passed away peacefully on February 19, 2011. William was born on April 11, 1939 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania to John J. Meagher and Louise Gunkle Meager. He is survived by his two adult children, John Joseph and Tammy Ann; sister, Dorothy Lee and many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Father John J. Meagher and his sister, Mary Berry. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

William F. Meagher known by all his friends and clients as Bill was a Substance Abuse Counselor for over 30 years. He started his career in the field in 1979 at MACO (Metropolitan Alcoholism Council) here in Orlando where he was the Halfway House Manager for the Lucerne House. He worked to secure his Certification as an Addictions Counselor (CAP) and after four years moved on to Asheville, North Carolina where he was the Manager of the Blue Ridge Center Detox. Bill returned to Orlando in 1985 and came back home to MACO as a Substance Abuse Counselor. He worked and loved the Domiciliary Care Program on Michigan and Nashville Street. He took a brief sabbatical and worked at the Koala Center in Bushnell and returned back to MACO. He was a primary therapist in the Residential Program.

Bill stayed with MACO until 1995 at which time he joined Turning Point of Central Florida, Inc. "Bill was one of the best counselors we have had in our program; he was passionate about his work and gave of himself to the program and the clients. He was a master at the Big Book and carried the message to thousands of clients over the years. Bill had his own effective treatment methodology and he knew how to reach out and pull his clients into recovery."

Bill was a consultant for PRN (Professional Recovery Network) and worked with a group of physicians and other professionals for years. He was a mentor and a counselor for many traveling the road of recovery.

Bill, a native of Philadelphia, attended Villanova and spent years accumulating continuing education units for his Certification. He was proud of his CAP and honored to help others working the program.

In December the Board of Turning Point of Central Florida, Inc. designated him as Emeritus Board Member, recognizing his professional accomplishments and his many many years of dedicated service. Dr. Fred Pearl, a founding Board Member of Turning Point of Central Florida, Inc. and an Emeritus Board member recalled that Bill and he were best friends for many years and he will miss his spirit and presence.

Al Konder, his best friend and colleague traveled with Bill to many football and basketball games –Bill loved all sports. Al remembers a trip to Miami. "We decided to drive through the Florida Keys; we drove to Key Biscayne and rode around for an hour before discovering that Key Biscayne was not a part of the Florida Keys". Al also recalled their trip to Quebec; Bill told me the plane they were taking us to Boston was a normal airplane. When we approached the plane, I noticed Bill was taller than the plane.
Bill loved his trip to Ireland and had many stories about his homeland and his heritage.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Turning Point of Central Florida Inc; A.A. in honor of his life work or Vitas Hospice for their compassionate care.