William Marion “Bill” Bradshaw, 62, of Yarmouth, Maine lost his battle with depression on August 20, 2026, and is now finding peace in the loving arms of his parents Pete and Ginny, his stepmother Lancy, his in-laws Ken and Evie Cianchette, and others who went before him.

Bill believed deeply that mental illness should be talked about openly and honestly. He wanted people, especially those who were struggling, to understand that mental illness was not something to be ashamed of. Billy was only 11 years old when he lost his mother, Ginny, to suicide. In those days, her illness and the circumstances of her death simply were not talked about. Bill carried the impact of that silence throughout his life, and as an adult he was determined to normalize those conversations. He talked openly about his own bipolar disorder because he understood firsthand the cost of silence. Bill had occasional bouts of depression throughout his life and always came out of it. For 30 years, he worked diligently to manage his illness while building a beautiful and full life. His family was completely engaged in that journey with him. Depression didn’t define his life – his life was full of joy.

His family hopes that telling his story will inspire another person or family to talk more openly, ask for help sooner, or feel less alone.

Born May 14, 1964, in Pittsfield, Maine, to Peter and Virginia “Ginny” Bradshaw, Billy was the youngest of three children. Bill’s childhood ran on basketball, dirtbikes, digging in the dirt, and swilling soda. He played basketball endlessly in the driveway and later became a standout player at Maine Central Institute. He loved construction from an early age, holding onto his Tonka Trucks forever, and ultimately making construction his career. As a child, his happy place was his grandmother Nanabelle's house on the hill in Brewer. He shared special memories at the Bradshaw’s camp on Lake Lucerne with his siblings Peter and Jane.

He attended the University of Maine Orono from 1982 to 1986, mostly majoring in pranks. His first battle with depression was in college. He eventually dropped out, unsure of which career path he wanted and moved to the greater Portland area, where he was a bouncer at many different bars and started his own taxi company, U R A Cab, with a slogan he never tired of repeating: "Call me a cab. You are a cab."

For as long as he could remember, Bill Bradshaw said he knew he was going to marry Jean Cianchette. Their love story was the classic boy-next-door-meets-girl-next-door. They married in June of 1989 with an epic garden-party wedding at Ken and Evie’s home. Bill quickly became a beloved part of Jean’s family and shared a special bond with her parents, who loved him as deeply as he loved them.

For 37 years they built a beautiful life together, raising their children Colby Will and Josie Ann. They started Big Bill's Ice Cream Shop in Pittsfield which was quintessentially Bradshaw: entrepreneurial, social, creative, fun and full of laughter. At the same time, Bill spent most of his career in construction, estimating and managing jobs all over Maine.

They had so much fun with everything they did, and the Bradshaw household was the place everyone wanted to be. He loved Jean, Colby and Josie and was immeasurably proud of his family. His devotion to them could be seen in the big things and in countless ordinary acts of caring, helping, maintaining, and simply showing up.

Bill had the biggest heart, a distinctive sense of humor, a relentless work ethic, and a genuine curiosity about everyone he met. He connected effortlessly with complete strangers, made friends quickly, and wanted to make everyone feel seen and important. Bill's definition of family extended beyond blood. The Mayhews, Reeds, and Littlefields became family, people with whom the Bradshaws shared holidays, vacations, adventures and years of memories. People wanted to be around Bill because he made life more interesting.

Bill showed up for his community and made an impact in everything he did. He took pride in having clean and meticulously maintained homes that he and Jean renovated over the years. He built an ice-skating rink at Warsaw Middle School, swept Main Street on his own initiative, mowed lawns without permission, and generally made sure things got done, because he was, above all, a doer. For the past several years, Bill brought that same energy to Jean’s businesses in Falmouth and Scarborough. He meticulously maintained the facilities, making sure everything looked beautiful and always functioned properly. He made himself available and wanted to help everybody there in any way he could.

Bill will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and remembered for the joy, kindness, love, and laughter he spread through his embellished stories, acts of service, and connection.

Bill is survived by his loving wife Jean, his son Colby, his daughter Josie and her fiancé Jamie Moore, his brother Peter, his sister Jane and her partner Tom, siblings-in-law Eric and Peggy Cianchette, Jane and John Linscott, Ann Cianchette, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and gathering will be held at 2:00 on September 26, 2026, at Mariner’s Church Banquet Center, 368 Fore Street in Portland, ME. If you would like to write down a favorite “Bill” story or memory to bring to the service for the family to keep, they would really appreciate it.

In lieu of flowers, Bill’s family asks that you perform a random act of kindness in his memory or clean up your or your neighbor’s yard.