Reverend William R. Thayer, 77, of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, died November 19, 2024. He was born August 15, 1947, in New York, NY. Known for his caring, kindness, and generosity, William will be deeply missed by all who knew him. He was the son of Allen R. Thayer and Barbara F. Moulton Thayer Meltzer and is survived by his brother, Lloyd M. Thayer, of Wilmington, Delaware, and a niece, a nephew, a great-niece, and a great-nephew.

William had a passion for theology, comparative religions, and church history. He majored in philosophy and religion at Springfield College, earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut and a Masters in Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School. He was ordained October 31, 2015. He worked in social Work for 30 years in Edinburgh, Scotland; New Haven and Manchester, Conn; and New York City. He worked as Parish Visitor at South Congregational Church in East Hartford, which he found to be his most rewarding and meaningful work. He was an active member of the Theosophical Society and William was a founding member and first president of the Thayer Families Association.

A memorial service will be held on January 11, 2025 at 10 am at the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Society of Greater Springfield, Mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the UU, South Congregational Church in East Hartford, or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Springfield, Mass.