William Marshall Fogarty

William Marshall Fogarty, 64 of Fort Lauderdale, FL passed away peacefully, Saturday, April 29, 2023, after a brief illness surrounded by family and friends.  Born in Worcester, MA, he is survived by his beloved mother, Shirley C. (Gilmore) Fogarty, sisters Helen M (Jack) Bicknell and Jane (Sam) Born, Uncle Thomas (Judy) Gilmore, Aunts Ann (Fogarty) Stansbury and Ruth Fogarty, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.  Bill’s father, James D. Fogarty and two brothers, David J. Fogarty and Matthew A. Fogarty predeceased him. 

Bill was a proud member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and graduate of The University of Mississippi earning both a BBA in 1981 and Juris Doctor in 1984.  He was a member of Moot Court Board of the University of Mississippi from 1982-1984.  He practiced corporate law at a large firm in Jackson, MS right out of law school and then moved to be closer to family opening his own law practice in 1986 in South Florida.  It wasn't long before he joined his father’s engineering and consulting firm there as legal counsel working alongside his brothers David and Matthew.  Together they opened a second company to license technology his father, Jim had designed and patented within the plastics industry.  His Uncle Thomas also joined the licensing company and with their new venture, they all traveled to many countries around the world and had many exciting adventures together.

“Fouges” as Bill was also known by his close friends, never met a stranger.  He had an eternal fun-loving spirit and zest for life.  He loved entertaining everyone with his quick wit and sense of humor.  He had a limitless number of jokes and was also a fantastic and avid storyteller.  Bill had an incredible intellect, memory, and natural comedic timing.  His loud and unique belly laugh was infectious, and everyone wanted to join in the fun when Bill was present.

Bill loved sports of any kind, laughs, and good times.  He excelled at sports when he was young and for most of his adult life.  He enjoyed track, swinging on the high bar, doing handstands, walking on his hands down the length of anyone’s driveway, playing ice hockey, street hockey, tennis, and his passion of golf.   His favorite past-time was playing various golf courses with his close buddies around Florida, the US, and Ireland.  He was proud of his golfing skills and the many charity golf tournaments he participated in.  He also loved reading, writing fiction, music, playing the guitar, and painting.

All who knew Bill will never forget him.  Bill loved his family and friends and believed in the hereafter... “We will all meet again” he would always say, and OHhhh the stories he will tell when we do!  In the meantime, Bill would want you to live life to the fullest, and celebrate him by playing a round of golf and/or buying a friend a drink or better yet the bar a round.  Slainte!

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