The Life of MR. WILLIAM THOMAS APPLEGATE
Applegate, William Thomas,
passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2014 after an 11-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was born July 16, 1943 to the late Emmett Russell Applegate and Margaret Virginia Carmody.
Bill was a proud 1961 graduate of Male High School and went on to graduate from the University of Louisville. Bill financed his college years playing in The Premiers, a 60s blues band, and as a studio musician for the old Sambo Recording Company. Bill joined the Kentucky Medical Association in 1968. He never forgot that his first day's assignment as a new member of the staff was to clean up a large basement storage closet. He retired as executive vice president in 2007 after 39 ½ years of service. He helped in setting up Kentucky Physicians Care in 1984, a program in which Kentucky volunteer physicians, Kentucky hospitals and major pharmaceutical manufacturers provide free medical services to non-insured low income Kentuckians. The program continues today as Health Kentucky and has served thousands of Kentucky patients.
In 1991, Bill served as president of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), an international organization of meeting planners. He was the program chairman for the entire meeting in 1988. He received the Kentucky Medical Association Outstanding Lay Person Award in 2003 and received the Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Medical Association in 2007.
Bill met the love of his life, Susan, on a blind date in 1972. They were married six months later and were never apart for over 41 years. They loved to travel and shared many beautiful experiences, visiting most of the United States and parts of Europe. They also loved to take sunny day drives in their '91 Miata, find a back road not previously explored, and take it, with the attitude that all roads go somewhere; let's take this one and see where it goes.
By far, Bill's biggest thrill was not only the day his beautiful daughter Amanda was born, but also the day he so proudly guided her down the aisle to her waiting husband. He was a happy father of the bride.
In his youth, Bill was a good trumpet player; throughout his life, he was a pretty good handyman; in his retirement, he was a wannabe finish carpenter.
Left to cherish Bill's memory are his wife, Susan; daughter Amanda Hess (Jeremy); sister, Pat Picheo (Lou); mother- and father-in-law, Claire and John Huneke; brothers-in-law, Bob Basler (Barbara), Dan Huneke (Lauren Theobald) and John Huneke (Ruth); sister-in-law, Belinda Peterson; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Special thanks to Tascha, the best oncology nurse, for her compassionate care. Also thanks to Renato LaRocca, MD, Linnea, Deanna and all the others connected to the Norton Multidisciplinary Center for never letting us lose hope. Thank you to all the amazing nurse and aides whose paths we crossed at Norton Suburban, Norton Downtown and Norton Brownsboro hospitals. You always kept dignity as your first priority and your care was impeccable. We love you all for your great skills.
The family respectfully requests no flowers. If you have a charity you love, help it in Bill's name. Better yet, perform an act of kindness for others and think of kind Bill when you do.