Birth date: Jun 30, 1936 Death date: Jul 20, 2011
Dear Carol, I was deeply saddened upon hearing of Bill's passing. I have such strong memories of working with him in producing the film version of his book, "Out of the Night." That film is a wonderful tribute to his life and his caring ministry with Vietnam vets. It has been used with VA Hospitals and with VA chaplains. Our church showed it last year on Veterans Day. Bill's witness continues to live on. Our prayers are with you and your family. J. Graley Taylor
I went to the V.A in 2001. One of my Instructors was Father Mahedy. After a few classes I said to my self I know this man from somewhere. I asked him I was in the Marines and You were Army and I served in 1968 and you in the 70's. I then said were you a Catholic Priest and he responded yes. I asked him if he taught at Uni and he said no but I do remember a young man from Saints who seldom came to school So he tried to help me in High School but he succeed much later in life. I am eternally grateful for the guidance Father Mahedy Bob Thing
Bill's book Out of the Night speaks with wisdom and inspiration across the years. We use his work today in helping vets address moral injury. A great light has passed, but the spark lives on!
Bill was that rare friend and colleague with whom agreement and disagreement were equally principled and thoughtful. A humanist, compassionate, hilarious, smart guy who took the church's sacraments seriously as only someone raised in the Roman Catholic tradition seems able to, I valued his friendship hugely. He often became impatient with my too facile, 60s liberal ways, but never failed to engage seriously even when he must have found my ideas less than rigorous. He sometimes took me more seriously than I took myself.His integrity was breathtaking and his willingness to go the extra mile for just about anyone will always serve as my example of what's meant by Christian charity.I haven't seen much of Bill since I retired and now spend more than half the year in the east, but knowing he has died makes me miss him as if I saw him every day.Blayney Colmore
Dear Carol and family, I was so saddened to learn of Fr. Bills passing.He was a specail friend to me and very supportive of the book business. I sold a number of his books. I will miss his fine spiritual presence especially at the Cursillo weekends.Prayers always,Kathryn Bunch K~B Books
I grew up with Rev. Mahedy's son Mike, and I remember at Longfellow Elementary meeting his dad on various occasions. As a child, I suppose I'd expected a reverend to be a serious and imposing man, but he always put us kids at ease with his lovely demeanor, his sense of humor and his soft laughter. It's rare that one person can cause such as lasting impression as Mike's dad did. A beautiful person, he will be missed dearly by many.
I first knew Bill through my parents, who were friends of his. I always remember my mother telling me how Bill was her first date. I got to know him more personally when he did pre-marital couseling and officiated at my and my husband Chris' wedding. He always made me laugh, and he will be missed. My condolences and love goes out to Carol, Michael, Marie and family.
I was one of two altar boys when Father Mahedy said his first mass at St. Pat's church in San Diego in 1963. He was ready to go out on the altar without his chalice and paten, and another priest standing there said, "Aren't you forgetting something?"I also had him for 3rd year Latin at St. Augustine High School. Instead of teaching Latin, he turned it into a Civics class, and I remember being quite inspired by doing a report on Martin Luther King, Jr's "I have a dream" speech.
In the 70's Fr. Mahedy was at a Good Samaritan Episcopal women's retreat in Julian. He shared communion with us using his field communion set from Vietnam. We asked how he had kept his balance ithere n the chaos. He said it was his faith that kept him whole and that it was the same with many of the soldiers. That message has left a lasting impression on me through the years.
I was in Bill Mahedy's Senior Religion class in 1968-1969. He urged us to challenge the world around us. One lesson he taught helped me beat a traffic ticket. That lesson dealt with the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law. I applied that in traffic court and won. I rarely saw him after graduating and leaving the San Diego area 10 years later but many of the lessons we learned have stayed with me.A bright light has left us but he passed on that light to many during his life.
