William Gerard Dillon
July 12, 1962 — May 10, 2016
William Gerard Dillon
William Gerard „Bill" Dillon Jr., died on May 10, 2016 of complications following emergency heart surgery at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland Oregon. He was 53 years old. He is survived by a brother and two sisters.
Bill, who for most of his adult life struggled with poverty and mental illness, lived in Tigard Oregon, where he worked at various positions in the services industry.
Bill was born on July 12th, 1962 in Yakama, Washington to Margaret Ann Dillon and William Gerard Dillon Sr. After a few years the family moved to Bellevue, Washington and later to Beaverton Oregon. He attended East Gate Elementary school in Bellevue, and Oak Hills Elementary School, Five Oaks Junior High School and Aloha High School in Beaverton.
Bill grew up in suburban America of the 60s and 70s playing backyard football with his neighbors, riding bikes, exploring the woods with his brother and friends, and walking to the local store for soft drinks and bubble gum. He played little league soccer, excelling as defensive fullback and also loved listening to music; Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers and Bread were among his teen-age favorites.
His adult life was complicated by an un-diagnosed mental illness that began to take its toll early on, compromising him socially and in his work endeavors. He did not recognize his problems or the need for treatment, despite the pleas of family and friends. And because law requires patient consent before giving medication, relief from the illness tragically remained an opportunity missed.
In spite of the handicap Bill managed to work, pay rent and endure. He survived a brief period of homelessness in the early 2000s. This was probably one of the most trying phases of his life and pulling himself out of it, one of his greatest accomplishments.
Bill never saw a doctor most of his adult life. On April 28, 2016, shortly after taking on a new job at a moving company, Bill drove himself to a nearby clinic complaining of severe breathing problems. He was taken immediately to hospital for emergency open-heart surgery. He spent his last 12 days in the intensive care unit there and died with his two sisters by his side.
Bill, who for most of his adult life struggled with poverty and mental illness, lived in Tigard Oregon, where he worked at various positions in the services industry.
Bill was born on July 12th, 1962 in Yakama, Washington to Margaret Ann Dillon and William Gerard Dillon Sr. After a few years the family moved to Bellevue, Washington and later to Beaverton Oregon. He attended East Gate Elementary school in Bellevue, and Oak Hills Elementary School, Five Oaks Junior High School and Aloha High School in Beaverton.
Bill grew up in suburban America of the 60s and 70s playing backyard football with his neighbors, riding bikes, exploring the woods with his brother and friends, and walking to the local store for soft drinks and bubble gum. He played little league soccer, excelling as defensive fullback and also loved listening to music; Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers and Bread were among his teen-age favorites.
His adult life was complicated by an un-diagnosed mental illness that began to take its toll early on, compromising him socially and in his work endeavors. He did not recognize his problems or the need for treatment, despite the pleas of family and friends. And because law requires patient consent before giving medication, relief from the illness tragically remained an opportunity missed.
In spite of the handicap Bill managed to work, pay rent and endure. He survived a brief period of homelessness in the early 2000s. This was probably one of the most trying phases of his life and pulling himself out of it, one of his greatest accomplishments.
Bill never saw a doctor most of his adult life. On April 28, 2016, shortly after taking on a new job at a moving company, Bill drove himself to a nearby clinic complaining of severe breathing problems. He was taken immediately to hospital for emergency open-heart surgery. He spent his last 12 days in the intensive care unit there and died with his two sisters by his side.
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