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William Wade Matchneer III

January 08, 1949 - December 18, 2021

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Obituary For William Wade Matchneer III

Bill Matchneer passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 18, 2021 with family at his side. Bill was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in January 2003 and he was given three years to live. His response to his oncologist was "That's not right." For 18 years, he continued to prove that prognosis wrong never even taking a leave of absence from work for medical treatment.

He worked uninterrupted for the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission in Washington, DC through two stem cell transplants. He then continued working for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development heading up their Manufactured Housing Program. He was responsible for manufactured home construction and safety standards, installation standards and a home dispute resolution program. He retired to Pittsburgh from the Federal Reserve Bank in 2014 and joined the law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings as Senior Counsel on their Financial Services Litigation and Compliance Team.

Bill spent his youth in Columbus, Ohio where he attended Columbus Academy making many life-long friends. He then followed his father and grandfather in attending Mercersburg Academy, a college preparatory school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. He was very happy to see his Mercersburg classmates at their 50th Class Reunion in 2017. After college prep, Bill followed the beat of his own drum attending radio announcers school in Manhattan. He then attended Ohio State University where he hosted the overnight progressive rock broadcast as a disc jockey at WCOL. His first night on the radio local authorities asked him to try to use his influence to calm the campus. The Ohio State-Michigan game had been played that afternoon and the tradition was to trash the campus, no matter who won the game!

His WCOL radio days also allowed him to spend time with some Rock’n’Roll greats. He told of getting a call from a local promoter offering an interview with The Grateful Dead. When he arrived, Jerry Garcia just looked at him and said something to the effect, “Hey man, we haven’t done any interviews in years.” One of the major rock impresarios of the time, Sam Cutler, apologized to Bill for the mix-up and invited him to watch the show from the orchestra pit. Bill said seeing the show from there made up for the lost interview.

Bill was an enthusiastic life-long Ohio State Buckeyes fan and was looking forward to this year’s bowl game. He faithfully followed Formula One Racing and was happy to see Max Verstappen recently win the F1 Championship. He enjoyed fly-fishing and was able to do more during his retirement at the family’s summer home in Brookville, Pennsylvania. After his radio days, Bill continued as an avid audiophile and had a collection of more than 2,000 first pressing vinyl albums dating back to the early 1960’s.

Bill loved motorsports. He was an amateur racecar driver who won Formula Vee championships as a member of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). In 1989, Bill won the North Atlantic, New England & New York Region Formula Vee Championship while he was sponsored by his friends at DeMott Auto in Stamford, Connecticut. While he raced across three regions, his happy place was with his racing friends at Limerock Park in Connecticut. Bill’s pride and joy was the 1994 Jaguar XJS convertible he had inherited from his Dad. He entered the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix in 2014 at Schenley Park and was pleasantly surprised to win Best Jaguar in Class. He was also very proud of the 1969 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle he had personally restored to mint condition. Always unassuming, Bill found amusement in having a vanity license plate that said Joe Blow.

Bill earned his J.D. from St. John's University School of Law and held a BA (summa cum laude) from Pace University. At the time of his death, Bill was admitted to practice law in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania.

Bill is survived by his wife of 37 years, Laurie Matchneer, his step-son Brian (Lisa) Pieczko Jr., his sister Nell (Doug) Schiavi, his brother Rick (Angela) Matchneer, his stepsister Catherine (Wayne) Bardsley and his in-laws David (Joan) Bardsley. He is missed by his niece Adrienne (Geoff) Abel, nephews Alex Schiavi, Ed (Jenny) Bardsley, Chris Matchneer, Seb Matchneer, Patrick Bardsley and his grandniece Brooke Bardsley. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eleanor Matchneer and William Wade Matchneer, Jr. and his stepmother, Sally Matchneer and his nephew Jeff Bardsley.

Family and friends will gather in the springtime in Brookville, Pennsylvania at the summer home Bill’s grandfather built in 1916. Further information will be provided at a later time. Arrangements handled by the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood 15227.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bill should be sent to: UAMS Foundation, 4301 West Markham, Slot #716, Little Rock, AR 72205, Designation-Myeloma Research, 501-686-8200 giving.uams.edu

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Condolences

  • March 21, 2022

    Beth Cook

    I worked with Bill at the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, and Bill made every single day fun and interesting. He was always sharing a story, making everyone see the funny side of everything, just an absolute joy to be around. He was a friend to everyone at the commission. I just read about his passing and I am just so shocked and saddened. I'm so sorry for your loss. The world is a different place without Bill.

  • December 27, 2021

    Don Johnson

    Words just fall short. Laurie, we are so sorry for your lose. I have so very many fond memories of Bill that will always bring a smile to my face. He will be greatly missed.

  • December 27, 2021

    Ken & Donna Rishel

    We will miss Bill. We worked together off and on regarding manufactured housing issues. Donna recalls several get togethers with Laurie especially one at a Florida resort at a beach bar populated with professional basketball players. Laurie, you are in our thoughts and have our sympathies.

  • December 27, 2021

    Bill Thomas

    With sadness, I read of Bill's passing. I always enjoyed our time at HUD and then at CFPB. I enjoyed Facebook interactions while he enjoyed retirement. Grace, Peace, and Comfort for his family and all who knew him. Bill Thomas

  • December 23, 2021

    Carol Hall

    Dear Laurie Words can't convey how sorry I am on the passing of your beloved Bill. May God comfort you now and in the future.

  • December 23, 2021

    DG Fulford

    Oh, Laurie Wonderwoman. I just found out and am very shaky. I have to reach out today for the loss of a fine and lovable man. My heart breaks for you. DG/Debby/Deeger

  • December 22, 2021

    Pete and Shirley Bookman

    Bill was a good friend to all his co-workers at the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. We will miss him very much. We were very close and our memories of Bill go back to when he and Laurie were living in Alexandria, Virginia.

  • December 22, 2021

    Jan Shaffer

    Oh my Laurie. I don't even know what words to use. Bill was one of the most intelligent, sweetest persons I have had the privilege of knowing. I can't imagine you without him by your side. I love you both very much and I will miss him more than I can say. I will always associate both of you with the Litchfield. My heart aches for your loss. I have seen that picture of him so many times. Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.