A FORMER son of Saltcoats has died in the United States, aged 90. William “Billy” Kean, 90, of Saddle Brook, NJ, died on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

Born in Saltcoats on July 2, 1927, he was the son of the late Wildred James Kean and Anne (O’Donnell) Kean. During World War II, Billy served in the Royal Air Force in Egypt.

After the war, Billy married Margaret Joan Comstive in Blackpool, England. Billy and Joan were sponsored as immigrants to the United States by the Bennato family of Carlstadt, NJ.

Billy eventually built their own home in Saddle Brook where he was employed as an electrician by the Bergen County Utilities Authority and opened antique shops in Montclair and Rochelle Park, NJ.

He retired in 1987 to care for his granddaughter, Caitlyn. Billy was a member of the Scots-American Club of Kearny, NJ, the Loyal Order of Moose in Pine Island, FL. and was also a parishioner at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Saddle Brook.

Billy especially enjoyed gardening, and playing golf and billiards with his grandson, Matthew.

For decades, Billy kept second homes in Matlacha FL, where he was beloved by many and made fine friends.

Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Margaret Anne Kean and Brian Bydlik of Carlisle, NY (formerly Mahwah, NJ); grandchildren, Caitlyn Elizabeth Bydlik of Carlisle, NY and Matthew James Bydlik of Monkton, VT; nephew, Philip Bennato Jr of Saddle Brook, NJ, nephew James Gerald Kean and his daughters Fiona and Grace, of Madison, NJ, nephew Martin Kean and his children Benjamin and Mikayla of Winterville, NC, a great-niece, Heather Elizabeth Dlugosz and her children, Elizabeth, Dominick, and Anna, of Brick, NJ, and nephews Gerard Gallagher of Bernardsville, NJ and Kevin Gallagher of New Vernon, NJ.

Billy was predeceased by his adult siblings James, Wilfred, Jock, Phillip, Ellen, Gerald, and David of Saltcoats, Scotland, and their many descendants.

A memorial mass will be held from The Church of Christ the King Church in Morristown, NJ on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 10.30 am where the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered.