William C. Groome

William Clair Groome, 71, died at home in Corning this July, 2026. Bill was a private and somewhat cantankerous person as well as a great baker and a very talented musician.

Bill was born in Greensburg, PA, in November 1954 to Luella Allison Groome and Clair Eugene Groome. He attended Corning schools, culminating in his graduation from Corning East High School in 1972. After high school, Bill took some classes at Corning Community College and worked as a disc jockey at WCLI FM at the corner of Chestnut and First streets. In the 1970s, DJs actually played records and talked on air, so Bill was able to use his encyclopedic knowledge of rock. At some point in the 1980s, live DJs disappeared from the station and workers simply played tapes that were provided to them. So Bill quit.

In addition to constantly listening to music, Bill also played guitar. In the early years, he played in different rock and punk bands, including the aptly named Local Shame. But as he got older, he mellowed and became enamored of classical acoustic guitar. If you attended a West End Gallery opening or Finger Lakes winery event sometime in the last 20 years and there was a solo guitarist, there's a good chance it was Bill.

The love of Bill's life was Kathy Anastasio, who was his partner for over 40 years. Together they enjoyed food, art, music, gardening, and wine, sometimes too much so. Bill was predeceased by his parents and Kathy (d. 2019). He is survived by his sister, Ruth Groome Shannon (James), brother Warren Groome (Kelley), nieces Heather Auer (Eric), Jamie Sechler (Eric), Eve Groome, and nephew Zachary Groome. He was laid to rest next to Kathy in Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve on Irish Hill in Newfield, NY.