William Dimmling

Most children wouldn’t choose to spend their afternoons among slabs of beef, sides of lamb and sausages. But that’s generally where Bill Dimmling, as a child growing up in Floral Park, could be found after school - in his dad’s butcher shop in Queens, carving and chopping, weighing and wrapping, handing the packages across the counter with a smile.

'He was used to working hard, even as a kid,' said Leslie Dimmling, his wife. 'I think this is where his workethic started, the idea that you pull your own weight.'

At 18, when his father died, Dimmling started pulling more than his own weight. As the oldest son of the family, it was Dimmling who arranged the funeral, Dimmling who sold the shop and Dimmling who taught his mother to drive.

He went on to Queens College, where he met his future wife, and, she said, graduated after 3 1/2 years with a double major in economics and accounting and a 4.0 grade point average.

'I didn’t know him to do anything in a slipshod manner,' his wife said. 'He always said, ’Whatever you do, give it your best effort.’'

As the senior vice president of financial systems with Marsh Inc., Dimmling, 47, of Garden City, demanded this of himself.

Indeed, the weekend before the terrorists attacks, in which he was lost from his office on the 98th floor of Tower One, he finally pronounced himself satisfied with a financial accounting system he had been working on for some time. His wife heard later from his boss that, after the collapse of all the systems on Sept. 11, 'the next day, it was Bill’s system that was the first one to come back.'

'He was very, very good at what he did,' she said.

And the energy he put intohis family, into being a father to Gregory, 15, and Nicholas, 6, was no less. He coached their soccer and baseball teams, he took them on vacations, and, his wife recalled, 'When he came home at the end of the day, they would rush the door, the two of them, for a big hello.'

Losing his father as a teenager made being a father particularly special for Dimmling, his wife said.

'He always had the biggest smile, like he was having the best time,' she said. 'I think he worked hard for everything he had. And he had everything he wanted.'

(c) 2002 Newsday, Inc. Reprinted with permission. www.newsday.com

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Every year on September 11th., it is imprinted in my memory after what happened to so many on that tragic day. However, there are a few people that impacted my life and career, and a few of us who used to work or still work at Marsh McLennan may always remember Bill Dimmling as one of the folks who drove part of our destiny. Sometimes, I wonder if he is up in the heavens watching us from above smiling with a drink in hand not having to deal with work no more. Our thoughts and prayers are always with him and his family.
Tomas Romero, Colleague
Sep 11 2014 10:01AM
I worked with Bill for a number of years at AIG and I can tell you he was a first class person all the way. A true professional with a passion for his work and family. I think of Bill constantly and he is truely missed. Rest in peace my friend. You will always be remebered.
Mike Sollecito, Colleague
May 15 2014 4:13PM
I worked with Bill for several years and was always impressed by his warm and friendly demeanor. He treated every person with respect and caring and greeted everyone with a smile. He is truly missed.
Tammy Bilitzky, Colleague
Sep 11 2011 4:36PM
I worked with Bill at AIG in the 1980s. Great guy and a very strong financial executive interested in improving corporate and financial reporting. Bill always worked harder, presented his ideas thoughfully and always a gentleman. We enjoyed talking about our young children, wives, and coaching kids stuff. I know Bill will be missed.
Jose Blanco, Colleague
Sep 12 2010 1:11PM
I went to high school and Queens College with Bill and we were worked as vendors at Shea Stadium. I didn't know him very well but always admired him as someone who would really succeed. After school we lost touch and was shocked to hear his name at the first 911 memorial. I grieved for everyone who knew him especially his loved ones and friends.
Richard Kleinhaut, Colleague
Jan 30 2009 4:33PM
I enjoyed every commute with Bill, every conversation on the sidelines. I still think about him, even this long (6+ years) afterward.
Greg Daly, Friend
Dec 3 2007 12:25PM
We loved Bill tremendously and miss him more!
Karen & Dennis Kirschner, Friend
Sep 20 2005 6:23PM