Obituary for William M. "Bill" Driscoll
William (Bill) Michael Joseph Driscoll died peacefully with his wife and daughters by his side on May 15, 2021. Bill was born on January 6, 1950 in Boston (Dorchester), Massachusetts at St. Margaret’s Hospital. He was the third child of William and Grace Driscoll, nee Harkins. Bill moved to Baltimore with his parents when he was 11 months old. He attended Glenmount Elementary 1st through 5th grade, then transferred to Saint Dominic School where he completed grades 6-8. He attended Towson Catholic HS for 9th grade then transferred to Northern HS for 10th through 12th grades. He graduated from Towson State University in 1974.
Much beloved by his devoted wife Barbara Driscoll (nee Chapp) and her sons and extended family, his cherished sisters Marie Berger (Larry), Ginny Kavanagh (Jim), and Gail Hopkins (Hoppy), brothers Kevin Driscoll (Allison) and Brian Driscoll (Margaret), and dear cousin Marcia Behlert, and his loving children and in-laws, including: Shannon Driscoll (Peter) and Moira Driscoll Ruley (James), his dear grandchildren Juliana, Colin and Devin, and former spouse Barbara Driscoll, nee Scheler. He was also loved and admired by his many dear nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Bill was “a City Hall fixture” since the 1970's and had a long career, beginning as a community organizer at Harbel Community Center. He mentored many people along the way, and supported city- and state-wide candidates and causes, including through his Victory Democrats Club with great friends Jim Kavanagh, Fred Brocolinno, Jody Landers and Frank Lidinsky. The club was noted for its annual Super Bowl Sunday Bull Roast, Halloween Dance, Awards Breakfast, Candidates’ Night, and Election Day poll coverage. Billy welcomed all into the club – the powerful and the powerless.
He loved elections – putting up lawn signs, canvassing neighborhoods, and putting out an army of workers on election day to cover the polling locations. While campaigning, he would meet people who needed help and he would always follow-up, forming lifelong bonds and friendships. The City Paper dubbed him the “Kingpin” and credited him with galvanizing the under 35 vote in Northeast Baltimore, which was a challenge to the older established political machines. He himself ran for the House of Delegates in 1986 with the support of enthusiastic family and friends.
He continued service to his hometown as a Baltimore City Hall staffer and chief of staff to City Council President (later Mayor) Bernard Jack Young, retiring in 2015. It's been said he was one of the most hardworking and creative workers in city government. He himself always said work smarter not harder!
Bill could not walk down a street in Baltimore - and even beyond Maryland state lines! - without someone calling out his name. His kind, gentle, optimistic, non-judgmental and giving nature made him a friend and helpmate to many and disparate people, all of whom enriched his life in turn. He was a nurturing role model of a father, showing his daughters unconditional love, and imbuing them with civic responsibility and pride. He savored life, love, family, friends, pets, the ocean, spinning tales, singing and music, and travel and art. He will be dearly missed.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Saint Dominic Church, 5309 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21214 from 3-4pm Saturday, May 22, 2021. Please join us afterward for a memorial service celebrating Bill’s life, at Accelerator Space, 417 Benninghaus Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212. Face masks are required. Memorial contributions may be made to The Helping Up Mission in Baltimore and IndependentVoterProject.org.
Much beloved by his devoted wife Barbara Driscoll (nee Chapp) and her sons and extended family, his cherished sisters Marie Berger (Larry), Ginny Kavanagh (Jim), and Gail Hopkins (Hoppy), brothers Kevin Driscoll (Allison) and Brian Driscoll (Margaret), and dear cousin Marcia Behlert, and his loving children and in-laws, including: Shannon Driscoll (Peter) and Moira Driscoll Ruley (James), his dear grandchildren Juliana, Colin and Devin, and former spouse Barbara Driscoll, nee Scheler. He was also loved and admired by his many dear nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Bill was “a City Hall fixture” since the 1970's and had a long career, beginning as a community organizer at Harbel Community Center. He mentored many people along the way, and supported city- and state-wide candidates and causes, including through his Victory Democrats Club with great friends Jim Kavanagh, Fred Brocolinno, Jody Landers and Frank Lidinsky. The club was noted for its annual Super Bowl Sunday Bull Roast, Halloween Dance, Awards Breakfast, Candidates’ Night, and Election Day poll coverage. Billy welcomed all into the club – the powerful and the powerless.
He loved elections – putting up lawn signs, canvassing neighborhoods, and putting out an army of workers on election day to cover the polling locations. While campaigning, he would meet people who needed help and he would always follow-up, forming lifelong bonds and friendships. The City Paper dubbed him the “Kingpin” and credited him with galvanizing the under 35 vote in Northeast Baltimore, which was a challenge to the older established political machines. He himself ran for the House of Delegates in 1986 with the support of enthusiastic family and friends.
He continued service to his hometown as a Baltimore City Hall staffer and chief of staff to City Council President (later Mayor) Bernard Jack Young, retiring in 2015. It's been said he was one of the most hardworking and creative workers in city government. He himself always said work smarter not harder!
Bill could not walk down a street in Baltimore - and even beyond Maryland state lines! - without someone calling out his name. His kind, gentle, optimistic, non-judgmental and giving nature made him a friend and helpmate to many and disparate people, all of whom enriched his life in turn. He was a nurturing role model of a father, showing his daughters unconditional love, and imbuing them with civic responsibility and pride. He savored life, love, family, friends, pets, the ocean, spinning tales, singing and music, and travel and art. He will be dearly missed.
The family will greet relatives and friends at Saint Dominic Church, 5309 Harford Rd, Baltimore, MD 21214 from 3-4pm Saturday, May 22, 2021. Please join us afterward for a memorial service celebrating Bill’s life, at Accelerator Space, 417 Benninghaus Rd, Baltimore, MD 21212. Face masks are required. Memorial contributions may be made to The Helping Up Mission in Baltimore and IndependentVoterProject.org.