William Morgan (Bill) Ganger passed away peacefully on Monday May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day) 12 years to the day after his wife Sally Ganger. This seems fitting in that she was the center of his world after they first met in January of 1958 and married only three months later on April 12, 1958. They spent the next five and half decades together, never running out of things they loved to do together. Most important to them both was the raising of their three children; Molly, Bill and Elizabeth. Bill, Sally and their kids spent summer weekends at Roaming Rock Shores where they all enjoyed swimming and boating. In the early days, Bill would load everyone, plus the dog, into a canoe to collect rocks (by the ton) which he then used in constructing his break wall. Perhaps not the safest of activities, but certainly memorable for his happy crew. Bill and Sally also generated years of memories through their annual vacations at the Jersey Shore (Long Beach Island) with extended family each August beginning in about 1963 – a tradition that continues, uninterrupted, and includes an ever expanding collection of aunts, uncles, cousins and now second and even third cousins. In their later years, Bill and Sally enjoyed travelling together, going on walking trips in England, driving trips around the U.S. and vacations to Europe and Australia. Closer to home, they enjoyed the Cleveland Orchestra and local theater. In retirement, Bill both drove a delivery route for Meals on Wheels of Cleveland Heights and bowled with the Plymouth Church Men’s Bowling League until the age of 89.

Bill was born in Cleveland and spent virtually his entire life in Cleveland Heights. He attended Noble Road, Elementary, Monticello Junior High and Heights High School (Class of 1950) where he collected his first group of buddies, always referred by their surnames; “Hauver”, “Baxter” and “Beatty” who remained lifelong friends. He graduated from Miami University in 1954 (more lifelong friends including “Kish” and “Kuehls”) and served in the US Army, mostly in Landstuhl Germany. After being discharged from his Army service in 1956 he spent a year in San Francisco before returning to Cleveland Heights for good. He joined his Dad, two uncles and cousin at the law and accounting firm A.H. Ganger and Co. and enrolled at Cleveland Marshall Law School from which he graduated, cum laude, in June 1962. He remained at A.H. Ganger & Co. until 1987 when he joined a long-time client, the Rooney Optical Company (the “Dougher Boys”) as controller and legal counsel until his retirement in 1998. Through it all, Bill remained in Cleveland Heights, except for three years spent “out in the sticks” (Vitalia in Solon) before returning “home” to Judson Park. Bill and Sally were also active members of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church where they developed more lifelong friendships (“Hanscom” and “Warmeling”).

Bill’s talents were not tennis, racquetball, handball, basketball, skiing or bowling (even though he greatly enjoyed all of those things). His true and finest talent, which was so central to his personality and his life, was his ability to project caring, interest and sincerity to everyone he met through his long life. All of the lifelong friends listed as examples above and so many others are the proof of those skills. He was, above all, a gentleman.

Bill is survived by his three children; Mary (Molly) Ganger Castaldo of Hanover, NH, and her husband, Neil; William M. (Bill) Ganger, Jr. of Chagrin Falls, OH, and his wife, Jen, and Elizabeth Carmany Ganger of Hoosick Falls, NY, and her husband, Jonah Spivak; seven grandchildren, Sophia and Anthony Castaldo, Zack (Lexie), John and Drew Ganger and Emma and Jack Spivak. Bill was predeceased by his brother, Milton Eugene (Milt) Ganger (Jean) and his parents, Milton Eugene (Dutch) Ganger and Margaret Morgan Ganger.

A Memorial Service to honor Bill will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill's memory to Meals on Wheels of Cleveland Heights (P.O. Box 18499, Cleveland Hights OH 44118-0499) or to Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 2747 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Hts., OH 44106.