Attorney William "Bill" Stevens

                                    Devoted to his family, faith and “the law”

 WATERTOWN - On Wednesday May 1, 2024,  we all lost a really good guy, a true family man, a enormously talented lawyer and a pillar of his community. Attorney William L. Stevens, age 68 of Watertown, died peacefully in the comfort of his home, from brain cancer (glioblastoma multiforme). He was the husband of Mary Beth (Cronin) Stevens for 40 years, and the father of Matthew P. Stevens and Erin L. Stevens.

 Bill was born in Waterbury on May 23, 1955, son of the late Thomas L. and Lauretta (Haddad) Stevens. He grew up in Waterbury, primarily Overlook, with his sister, Denise, and brother, Rob. Bill was a 1969 graduate of St. Margaret’s Grammar School, a 1973 graduate of Holy Cross High School, a (magna cum laude) 1977 graduate of the University of Connecticut, and a (cum laude) 1981 graduate of Western New England College School of Law. After graduating from law school, Bill worked for a year as a judicial law clerk. He then spent 27 years with the Waterbury law firm that came to be known as St. John, Scappini, Lombard and Stevens. Later, Bill joined the Watertown firm Slavin, Stauffacher and Scott, for 13 years. Bill was admitted to the Connecticut bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut bar, and the U.S. Supreme Court bar. His legal skills garnered ample recognition. Bill received the Waterbury Young Lawyers Award (1996) and multiple Super Lawyer designations from Connecticut Magazine, among other awards.

 For Bill, legal work went far beyond his practice. He served on the Connecticut Judicial Selection Commission, on the Connecticut Local Grievance Panel and Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee, as an attorney arbitrator and fact finder, and on the building committee for the Waterbury criminal courthouse. From 1993 to 1995, Bill was president of the Waterbury Bar Association. At various points, he taught law-related courses at Post University. Bill was well-known and well-respected for his intelligence, work ethic, integrity, compassion, civility, and dedication to his clients. From the beginning of his career until the end, Bill brought honor to his law school, his partners, his associates, his staffs, his clients and the legal profession at large. Bill’s law-school dean, Howard I. Kalodner, once said a law school is obligated to ensure its graduates well serve the American public. Unquestionably, Bill well-served the American public.

 When he wasn’t doing legal work, Bill was very active in the community. A devout Catholic, Bill was a lector and Finance Council member for St. Margaret’s Church in Waterbury. Later in life, he was a lector and school board member for St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Oakville. Similarly, Bill served on the board of directors for Holy Cross, and was board chairman for a period. Bill was inducted into Holy Cross’ Hall of Honor in 2019. Additionally, Bill was a Waterbury March of Dimes Walkathon leader, a Cub Scout leader, a Watertown-Oakville Little League coach, and a parent volunteer for Watertown Youth Hockey.

Bill was a man of many interests. He was a huge sports fan, particularly of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. Good Crusader and Husky that he was, Bill kept close tabs on Holy Cross and UConn athletics. Despite his illness, Bill faithfully watched the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams play in this year’s NCAA tournaments. He relished the men’s team’s second consecutive national championship. Bill was an avid golfer who had a hole-in-one to his credit, and he was a rules official certified by the Connecticut State Golf Association. A member of the Watertown Golf Club for 30-plus years, Bill organized the 2015 celebration of the club’s 100th anniversary and wrote a history of the club, “A Good Walk Enjoyed.” Bill was a health-and fitness-enthusiast. For more than 40 years, he was a member of the Greater Waterbury YMCA. Consistent with this, Bill was an avid runner for many years. Notably, he logged three runs up Mount Washington (in 1986, 1988 and 1994). Additionally, Bill loved to travel, cook on the grill, listen to music, grab ice cream at the UConn Dairy Bar, and read - fiction and non-fiction works alike. 

 In the end, though, family and friends were most important to Bill. He was the most dedicated son, son-in-law, husband, father, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend anyone has ever had. No matter how busy Bill was, he always had time to offer advice, comforting words, and his presence at major life events. The strength, courage and determination Bill displayed in fighting cancer and its complications since December 2021 will never be forgotten. Our family thanks you, Dad, for every prayer you uttered for us, for the many sacrifices you made for us, for thousands of hugs you shared with us and the unending love you instilled in all of us. 

Besides his wife and children, and Erin’s partner Zachary Rowe, Bill is survived by his sister, Denise M. Stevens, of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; his brother, Robert T. Stevens, and his wife Jeanne (Tremaglio), of Cheshire; his nephews and nieces, Jeffrey R. Stevens, and his wife, Vera, of Charlotte, N.C., Attorney Christopher A. Stevens, and his partner, Hannah Hollinger, of Washington, D.C., State Trooper Alyssa A. Stevens and her K-9, Mohl, of Cheshire, and Jennifer (Cronin) Arcari and her husband, Anthony, of Cromwell; and his brothers-in-law, Thomas J. Cronin and his wife, Nancy, of Watertown, Joseph M. Cronin, of Waterbury, and David P. Cronin, and his fiancée, Barbara Peluse, of Hamden. In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his parents-in-law, Thomas J. and Lena (Carozza) Cronin, and his sister-in-law, Janis C. (Barrie) Cronin.

 Mere words are but a feeble attempt to express our family’s gratitude for those that cared for our husband and dad with such love and devotion. They include Bill’s physicians, Drs. Arvind Suri, Nicholas Blondin, Jennifer Moliterno and Kevin Du, who provided extraordinary care; Bill’s speech therapist and physical therapist, Rachel Iassogna and Kevin Berghorn, respectively, who enhanced Bill’s quality of life; Bill’s hospice nurse, Sara Cole, who made Bill comfortable; and the many friends who provided invaluable help and support.  To honor Bill’s memory, and at Bill’s direct request, contributions to Holy Cross High School, 587 Oronoke Road, Waterbury, CT 06708, would be greatly appreciated by the Stevens family, in lieu of flowers.

Funeral services for Attorney Stevens will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. when a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Mary Magdalen Church 14 Buckingham St Oakville CT. Those planning to attend are kindly asked to meet directly at the church. Private burial will be held at the convenience of his family. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Bill’s family on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care 1987 East Main St Waterbury CT 06705. 

Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence or words of comfort or share a memory of someone important to you with your family and friends. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the Stevens family, please visit our Sympathy Store.