Bille, Daniel Obituary

Bille, Daniel attended North Tonawanda High School in North Tonawanda, NY. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Bille, Daniel.

Graduation Year	Class of 1958
Date of Passing	May 06, 2018
About	Daniel Bille Oct. 27, 1940 – May 6, 2018 Mr. Bille died May 6 in his North Tonawanda home after a lengthy illness. He was 77. Born Ambrose D. Bille Jr., he grew up in Wheatfield and was a 1958 graduate of North Tonawanda High School. He enlisted in the Army and served an extended tour of duty as a radar repairman in the demilitarized zone in Korea. Returning from service, he attended Erie County Technical Institute and earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial arts education from Buffalo State College. Instead of teaching, he took a job with Western Electric Co., which transferred him to Cape Kennedy, Fla., in 1966. Two years later, he heard from one of his professors at Buffalo State that Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga wanted to hire an electronics and electricity teacher for its shop classes. Mr. Bille taught at Maryvale for 13 years, then became a technical writer for Aero Inc., Calspan, Worthington Corp., General Physics and National Educational Consulting, where he led technical training programs for companies such as General Mills. He left to become city historian. He said it was the best job he ever had,” his wife said. “He loved everything about history.” Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002, he retired as historian in 2008. In recent years, Mr. Bille researched the War of 1812 and was writing a book about it. His wife said she hopes another writer will finish the project, using his notes. He had a totally different take on it,” she said. “He said it determined the route of the Erie Canal.” He was a member of the North Tonawanda History Museum, the Historical Society of the Tonawandas and the Historical Society of North German Settlements in Western New York. He also was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and Stephen Sikora Post 1322, American Legion. Survivors also include three sons, Matthew, Andrew and Jonathan; a sister, Joan Cassata; and three grandchildren. Services will be private.