William M. Santora

Age 78, of Warsaw, passed away at home on July 14, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born August 27, 1942 in Buffalo, NY son of the late Anthony and Irene Bursch Santora. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Education from the State University of New York at Brockport. Bill influenced generations of students and student athletes as he taught for thirty-three years at Warsaw Central School and spent fifty-eight years coaching athletics. He was an avid sports, fitness and weightlifting enthusiast. Bill was inducted into the Warsaw Central School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Hill High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Section V Track & Field Hall of Fame. He was also a charter member of the Warsaw Central School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.

The four pillars of Bill’s life were family, faith, school and athletics; but always family first. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend who always lived by his advice to others, “today I will strive to do my best”.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-six years, Diane Langworthy Santora, whom he married on December 26, 1964; his children, Lynn (Michael) Auble of Warsaw, Brian (Alison) Santora of Beaver Dams, NY; his grandchildren, Ralph Hill, Karmen and Matthew Auble, Charles, Abigail, Harold, Andrew, Ian, Margaret, Paul and Christopher Santora; his siblings, Rosemarie (Edwin) Lamm of Lakeland, FL, Anthony (Kathy) Santora of Lancaster, Michael (Karen) Santora of Tonawanda; brother-in-law, Richard (Laura) Langworthy of West Newbury, MA; several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Friday, July 16 from 6 – 9 PM at the Robinson & Hackemer Funeral Home, 246 N. Main St., Warsaw. Bill’s memorial service will be held Saturday, July 17 at 11 AM at the Warsaw Central School Middle/High School Auditorium (W. Court St.). Private burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Newstead at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bill Santora Student Athlete Scholarship Fund c/o Warsaw Sports Boosters, PO Box 393, Warsaw, NY 14569 or c/o Dansville All Sports Boosters, PO Box 325, Dansville, NY 14437.