William Hackett: husband, father, grandfather, teacher, inspiration

William H. Hackett, resident of Henry Ford Village, and husband of Patricia Hackett, died on May 22, 2020, from complications with COVID-19, at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan. Born in Monroe, Michigan, in 1932, he was the only child of Pearl (Gollinger) Hackett of Munising, and Harry Hackett of Monroe, Michigan.

Bill graduated from Monroe Catholic Central High School, and Western Michigan University (BA in History). He received Master's degrees from both Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.

Bill met the love of his life, Pat (Ryan) Hackett, at Western Michigan, and they were married in 1955; they enjoyed 65 years of a loving partnership.

Bill and Pat raised two daughters in Dearborn, Michigan: Kathleen Hackett, of Geneva, Switzerland with her family – Jonathan Farr, and daughters, Arden and Quinn Farr; and Susan Hackett, of Bethesda, Maryland with her family – Richard Hagerty, and daughters, Claire and Maeve Hagerty.

Bill was a historian: he was a passionate student of labor and social history. He spent his professional life in the Dearborn Public Schools – at Edison Junior High, Edsel Ford High School, and then Henry Ford Community College, from which he retired after 42 years of teaching. He coached the tennis teams at Edsel, and cherished his time and friends made on the tennis court.

Bill was an active leader of the Dearborn Federation of Teachers. He also maintained a lifelong commitment to the church, serving in various leadership roles at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church (formerly in East Dearborn), and more recently, at The First United Methodist Church of Dearborn; he served as President of the United Methodist Union of Greater Detroit. Bill was also a longtime member of the Dearborn Historical Commission.

In lieu of flowers, the family will establish a scholarship fund to honor Bill's love for Henry Ford Community College and its students. Please go online to https://giving.hfcc.edu/ and write in that you wish to apply your gift (in the "other" category) to "William Hackett – Scholarship Fund"; or mail your donation to the attention of: A. Reginald Best, Vice President Institutional Advancement, Henry Ford College Foundation, 5101 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128; please include the notation: "William Hackett – Scholarship Fund."

There will be a memorial service at a later date.