It is with sadness we report the passing of William “Bill” Bailey, Jr., a maestro with machines and wizard with welding who over nearly 23 years at Florida Tech helped students and professors realize hundreds of research projects, capstone endeavors and more with his timely advice and invaluable, hands-on help in the machine shop.
Mr. Bailey passed away Oct. 18 after what his obituary described as ‘health complications.” He was 62.
Born and raised in Geneva, New York, Mr. Bailey (pictured above right) eventually made his way to Florida, where he “built a life, raised his family, and made countless memories,” his obituary noted.
Hired at Florida Tech in November 2003 as a machinist/welder through what was then the College of Engineering, Mr. Bailey soon became a go-to figure for the campus community. He was named a supervisor in 2007 before his promotion to manager of machine shop operations in 2013.
But it was in 2004, just months after his hiring, that Mr. Bailey began working with Distinguished University Professor, holder of the Allen S. Henry Professorship, and a longtime lightning researcher Hamid Rassoul.
What began as a professional relationship in 2004 grew over the next 22 years into a lasting friendship built on mutual respect, trust and admiration.
Mr. Bailey was an exceptionally talented machinist, Rassoul said, and he and his colleagues often put that skill to the test.
“He had a remarkable ability to turn our sometimes rather complicated, and occasionally crazy, scientific ideas into real, working instruments,” Rassoul said. “Over the years, he helped us design, build and deploy an impressive collection of specialized scientific equipment, including X-ray and gamma-ray detectors, x-ray spectrometers, electric-field antennas, and many other instruments used in our lightning research.”
Some of the instruments Mr. Bailey built with his own hands are still operating at research sites across the United States and around the world.
“I find it especially meaningful that his craftsmanship continues to contribute to scientific research and discoveries even today,” Rassoul said.
Mr. Bailey’s prowess in the machine shop and beyond was clear to Peter Zappala, director of operations and projects at L3Harris Student Design Center and Mr. Bailey’s current supervisor.
“Throughout his decades of service, he welded and machined thousands of parts and projects for students and professors alike,” Zappala said.
But Mr. Bailey offered more than welding and machining.
“Bill was a tireless mentor,” Zappala said. “He generously gave his personal time to travel with student teams to competitions, holding a special fondness for the SAE Baja events.”
Rassoul, too, saw numerous examples of Mr. Bailey’s skill with students.
“I admired how much he cared about our students. He was a patient and thoughtful teacher who took pride in sharing his knowledge and skills with younger generations,” Rassoul said. “He taught them much more than how to operate machinery. He taught them the importance of doing things carefully, safely and correctly, and of taking pride in a job well done.”
In the shop or at the design center, Mr. Bailey was a welcome presence.
“Bill showed up every day with a uniquely joyful, passionate and endearing ‘grumpy-old-man’ attitude that we all came to love and adore,” Zappala said. “It was that distinct personality and welcoming presence that truly made the shop feel like home for our students, staff and faculty.
“Personally, I am so grateful for his friendship, his guidance and everything I learned from him,” Zappala continued. “I will dearly miss working alongside him and seeing him every day.”
Rassoul added, “He had this wonderful combination of technical ingenuity, common sense and a genuine desire to help others succeed. Knowing that Bill was always there gave me confidence that we could find a way forward.”
In 2023, in a testament to his impact and popularity, Mr. Bailey was named the Most Valuable Panther (MVP) for March. The material from the Office of Human Resources noted his commitment to his job, highlighting how he would come in on weekends and after hours to assist students ahead of competitions and the senior design showcase.
He did not seek attention for his generous actions.
“Bill was one of the quiet heroes behind our scientific accomplishments,” Rassoul said. “His name may not appear on many of our research papers, but his fingerprints are on so many of the instruments that made those studies possible.”
Bill is survived by his mother, Mary Alice Bailey; his stepmother, Judy; his brother, August Bailey; his two stepsisters, Christina and Jeanette Bell; his girlfriend and longtime friend, Stephanie Kelly; his sons, William James Bailey and Jacob Bailey, and daughter-in-law, Shana Bailey; his stepsons, Ryan DeWitt and Ricky DeWitt, and Ricky’s partner, Phoenix Horschel; his six grandchildren, Abigail Jackson, William Bailey, Harper Halladey, Isla Bailey, Luke Horschel and Dean Horschel; his uncle, Terry Bailey; and his cousin, Terry Bailey.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Bailey Sr., and stepsiblings Kevin Bell, Allan Bell and Carolyn Bell.
The campus community is invited to a Celebration of Life for Mr. Bailey starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at Siggy’s, 1153 Malabar Road SE #1 in Palm Bay. Food will be provided.
