Nov. 24, 1928—Dec. 24, 2009

William J. McLaughlin Jr., whose interests embraced the worlds of business, athletics and human services, died Thursday in his home in Clarence, after a 14-year battle with prostate cancer. He was 81.

A 50-year veteran of the life and financial service industry, Mr. McLaughlin owned William J. McLaughlin Co. before retiring from active involvement last year. For 44 consecutive years, he earned membership in the industry’s prestigious Million Dollar Round Table and in 1988 won the Stanley C. Collins Award from the Buffalo Life Underwriters Association.

His passion for helping others was evident in leadership roles in many religious, advocacy and humanitarian groups.

For 32 years, he was a board member and past chairman of Los Ninos, a California-based nonprofit organization that educates poor families in Mexico to become self-sufficient.

He was a board member and past chairman of Harvest House since its inception 16 years ago and a board member of the John Newman Mission Community, his home church.

Diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 1995, Mr. McLaughlin became an advocate for other prostate cancer victims.

He served as a cancer coach for the Cancer Wellness Center; as general chairman of Us Too of Western New York, an education and support group for newly diagnosed men and their families; and as a patient advocate with the Buffalo/Niagara Prostate Cancer Consortium at Roswell Park. Even as his cancer continued to spread, he raised more than $16,000 in pledges for Roswell Park by riding his bicycle 12 miles in the annual Ride for Roswell.

Mr. McLaughlin’s efforts led to his earning several awards, including the Katherine Anne Gioia Inspiration Award, the “Community Hero Award” presented by the local United Way and Univera Health and the William E. Swan Community Spirit Award this year from Gilda’s Club of Western New York.

As an athlete, Mr. McLaughlin excelled in baseball and basketball at Aquinas Institute and Alfred State Agricultural and Technical College, where he was senior class president in 1950. He became a top racquetball player, being elected to the Western New York Racquetball Hall of Fame in 1979. Knee surgery in 1987 caused him to take up bicycle racing, and in 10 years he earned 19 medals at the Empire State Games and the New York Senior Games. He also spent eight days in France in 2002 to observe and ride portions of the Tour de France course and completed weeklong rides in many venues.

He also served four years in the Navy during the Korean War era, as an air-control tower operator in the early 1950s.

Among the survivors are his wife of 59 years, the former Marion A. Frank;a daughter, Patricia Schall, and four sons, Christopher, John, James P. and Timothy. Another son, Michael, died in 1993.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a. m. Wednesday in Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 8500 Main St., Clarence.