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ONEONTA – William R. “Bud” Pirone, 81, passed away on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, at Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta.
A former history teacher at Oneonta High School, he later became principal. He also helped found the Oneonta Alumni Association and coached tennis.
Arrangements are pending with the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.
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Bud taught me how to play tennis in Wilbur Park on the courts near the pool. Really nice man in all my memories. Blessings for peace to his family.
Rest well Mr. Pirone, thank you for being a part of my youth, my story, and my journey in life.
“Revered” is exactly the correct way to describe Bud Pirone, by those who knew him, or those who had the privilege of learning from him. He was an incredible teacher and administrator, but much more than that, he was great human being.
Rest In Peace Bud. You made a huge difference in my life and many others’. The world will sorely miss you.
Mr. Pirone taught in Sidney also, one of my very favorite teachers, he is the reason I loved history. Betsy Robertson Davis
Rest In Peace and thanks for your efforts on behalf of Oneonta’s schools, it’s students and graduates.
So sad to learn of Bud Pirone’s passing. I will always remember him as an outstanding teacher and human being. His sense of humor was graced with love and affection… never demeaning. I will always remember his measured outlook on political events and positive outlook on learning. He taught with his whole knowledge base and challenged students to become lifelong learners like he continued to be. Hope he continues to teach in that great high school in the sky. RI Peace and Love. Julie Wells
Oneonta has list one of its heroes. Bud taught us all do much.
So sorry to hear this! He was a great principal!! Best wishes to his family and my classmate Patty Pirone!
Oh my heart😔Mr. Pirone was an amazing teacher and principle! He loved his students and had an amazing sense of humor! He was a gifted educator and outstanding person. Our love and sympathies go out to the Pirone family🙏. God Bless.
Heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Pirone. I had him as a teacher for a couple of history classes in high school. As a teacher, he knew so much, but more than that at times he seemed like more of a friend who was so respected. I was so surprised after so many years of not seeing him and not living in Oneonta, he still remembered me as he remembered all of his students. He was truly a wonderful person who will be missed.
You were the best of principals, the best of teachers, the best of colleagues, the best of friends. You will be forever and deeply missed. Siobhan “Sam” Bennett Chief Strategic Officer Legal Momentum, OHS Class 1976.
Bud Pirone was an extraordinary human being. He made history class fun, telling stories as if he were sharing secrets around a campfire. He genuinely enjoyed teenagers–no small feat. Decades later, so many of us owe an interest in lifelong learning to his inspiring example. What a positive role model: teacher, principal, tennis coach, alumni association co-founder, husband, father, neighbor, etc. Loved his sense of humor, and that mischievous smile that was unfailingly kind. Deepest condolences to the family. Godspeed, Mr. P.
He made Oneonta a better place and was so influential to so many of us OHS grads. Thanks for the memories Mr. Pirone. Wow…I’ll spend this evening thinking of OHS and the good times and good classes you taught.
Judy Gergel Zanchi…class of 1980
I’ll always call him Mr. Pirone. It made me so sad to see this that I could not write this the first time. He was and is the best and a true role model – I was best friends with his son and he always found time to play ball with us, to ask us how we were doing and simply take interest in you as a person. I generally regarded him as a gentleman – he showed us all types of interesting things from books and puzzles, to historical landmarks around the region to sports history. He was patient, funny and just a good person. A great regret of mine was not seeing him the last ten years. Great man!