Obituary of William B. Konar

Passed away peacefully at home on June 18, 2015. He is survived by his loving wife, Sheila; daughter, Rachel (Rick) Guttenberg; son, Howard; grandchildren Danielle and Brittany Guttenberg and Alex, Jeremy, and Miranda Konar. Born in Radom, Poland, Bill emigrated alone to Rochester in 1946 after liberation from a Nazi labor camp. He attended Benjamin Franklin High School for two years, then went into business for himself distributing health and beauty supplies to independent grocery stores. The drug store chain he later founded in Rochester, Clinton Merchandising, went public on the American Stock Exchange and later merged with Consumer Value Stores to form CVS, where Bill served as Senior Vice-President for eight years following the merger. Bill’s second career was in the real estate business as the founder of Konar Properties. During and after his working years, Bill gave freely of his time, energy, and resources to many different causes. He served as a Trustee of Nazareth College, as a member of the Board of Governors of Hebrew University, and as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Israel Bonds Organization, which honored him with both the Ben Gurion and Man of the Year Awards. He also served on the National Campaign Board responsible for establishing the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Bill will be remembered most for his intelligence, wisdom, integrity, and humor. He was a devoted husband and father, a caring and generous friend, and a passionate supporter of the many causes he believed in. His thoughtfulness, fairness, and sound judgment inspired trust and respect in the many people whose lives he touched. Funeral services will be held privately. Calling hours will be held at Irondequoit Country Club [View Map] on Sunday, June 21, from 2 to 6 pm. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Home Pittsford, NY Birthplace Radom, Poland Donations Alzheimer's Association, Rochester Chapter