March 26, 2022
Alex, Vassilios “Bill”
March 16, 1943 – March 22, 2022
Vassilios “Bill” Alex of Brockton, Massachusetts, age 79, passed away on March 22, 2022 after a valiant four-year battle with blood cancer.
Bill was born in Boston on March 16, 1943 and happily spent his early years in the Dorchester section of the city. The son of immigrants whose rural Greek village only offered schooling through grade 4, he attended Boston and Milton Public Schools, graduating from Milton High in 1961. As a commuter student at Emerson College, Bill thrilled at the chance to be a pioneer in TV production and served as manager of the WERS TV studio his senior year. Throughout college, he also worked for the Grecian Echoes radio program and as writer of the weekly “Alex’s Arena” sports column for the Hellenic Chronicle newspaper. Bill received his bachelor’s in speech broadcasting in 1966.
Upon college graduation and during the Vietnam War, Bill enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Adana, Turkey and Mountain Home, Idaho.
After completing his military service, Bill embarked on his broadcasting career, traveling around the United States as play-by-play announcer for the New England Tea Men of the North American Soccer League. Upon the league’s move, he joined WBET 1460 radio in Brockton where he hosted the very popular “Newsline” talk show and produced news reports throughout the day. Bill was deeply dedicated to the city of Brockton, and his mission during “Newsline” was to bring the same journalistic excellence one would expect in major market radio to the local community. The show became known for stimulating interviews with notable personalities, as well as “open lines” for listeners to discuss anything they wanted to talk about. After two decades on the air, Bill pursued a second career at the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, retiring in 2009.
While Bill had many passions – baseball, rock and roll, and Greek culture among them – family came first. He prioritized spending time with his wife and daughters; favorite family trips included swimming at Humarock Beach in Scituate, fishing at Island Grove Pond in Abington, and sledding at Chemung Hill in Stoughton. He was also an excellent cook known for his homemade meatballs and roasted lemon chicken and potatoes. He had a warm and engaging personality that made others feel at ease, and made friends everywhere he went.
Bill leaves his wife of 45 years, Emily Alex; daughters Katherine (Katie) Alex Stevens and her husband Eric of Norwood and Eugenia (Jennie) Wilkinson and her husband Steve of Norwood; grandchildren Theodore and Cordelia Wilkinson and Xander Stevens; and granddogs Grover, Penelope, and Rosie. He is also survived by brother Christos Alex and his wife Marie of Boston, and was predeceased by sister Athanasia Arvanitis and her husband George of Milton.
Private services were held on March 25 at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Bill’s family is setting up a college scholarship fund for first-generation and/or low-income (FGLI) students graduating from Brockton or Milton High school who aspire to careers in communications and journalism; those wishing to honor his memory with a donation may do so at https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-vassilios-bill-alex
Comments(3)
What a great man. Bill was a true professional and was a great storyteller. I enjoyed every moment I spent with him and those were far too few. He was a part of a dying breed and we are poorer because he is not here anymore.
I knew Bill a lot of years ago when he was at WBET and I was in the Brockton Enterprise newsroom. Bill was a great guy to know and work with. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. His radio show stood out on the local station. My condolences go out to his friends and family. RIP Bill.
Blessings Wilkinson Family,
Gilbert and I send our heartfelt prayers to you and your family.
We love you,
Gilbert and Barbra Peacock