Victor "Vic" J. Billings, II

Victor “Vic” John Billings, II, of Winchendon, formerly of Boylston, Berlin and Hudson, passed away unexpectedly at home on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Vic was born on October 30, 1951 in Clinton, MA, a son of the late C. Myron Billings and M. Marcella (Gibney) Billings. He was raised in Hudson and graduated as the valedictorian from Hudson High School, where he was a proud member of the hockey team.  Vic was the first student from Hudson to be accepted to the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology with honors. He played club hockey earning the Notre Dame Monogram Winner Award . Later, he received his Masters of  Education from Assumption College.

He began his teaching career as a substitute teacher in the Hudson Public School system before taking a full time position. He went on to teach 6th grade math and science and to coach hockey in the Clinton Public Schools. Vic truly enjoyed this phase of his life. He valued his time with his students and of course being a hockey coach. In 1986 Vic decided to start a new career as a self-employed carpenter, which he found great satisfaction doing until his retirement. Throughout the years he also maintained his local Hudson roots as a bartender part-time at the now defunct Bar Lunch.

Vic spent much of his early years in Hudson, but later moved to Boylston where he resided for over twenty years before relocating to Winchendon last summer. He was an avid golfer

and was a regular participant in the annual Hudson Recreation Department Golf Tournament at Charter Oak since its inception. Vic also enjoyed playing hockey as an adult for many years in the Hudson Men’s Senior Hockey League. He was a runner and participated in 8 marathons including 7 Boston and 1 New York. He skied in the winter and enjoyed golfing and the ocean in summer’.With his move to Winchendon, his new daily routine was a swim in Lake Dennison which began last summer and continued until late fall and he proudly announced he was back to his early morning swims this May.

As all of you know, Vic truly was a friend for life. There is no one he met who didn’t become his friend. His former students became friends, his old coaches he still visited, his teammates from sports, to his new friend, the 85 year old lady across the road, who knew his routine and had him checked on. To all his friends, we want you to know how much he cared for each of you.

Vic is survived by three siblings, Charles M. Billings of Gloucester, Mary Billings Sherman and her husband Peter of Franklin and John F. Billings of Acton; 1 nephew, Ryan P. Sherman and his wife Jessica and their daughter Ella of Norton; 2 nieces, Kathryn M. Sherman and her husband Steve Achatz and their son Peter of Somerville and Erin M. Arruda and her husband David and their daughter Natalie of Plymouth, and many cousins.

All are welcome to attend a Graveside Prayer Service at 12 pm on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Forestvale Cemetery in Hudson, MA. Following the prayer service please attend a gathering to celebrate Vic’s life. We all know how much Vic loved a celebration.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Memory of Vic Billings to:

Hudson Recreation Department

78 Main St.

Hudson, MA  01749

to provide participation fees for those in need.

Dear Dan:

Thank you for speaking with our family friend to discuss establishing a mechanism for charitable donations to be made in the memory of our brother, Victor Billings. We are very appreciative of your assistance and thankful for your kind words and expression of sympathy.

Vic’s death is a tremendous loss to our family and to his many friends.  We hope to honor him in a way that would be meaningful to him. Vic loved Hudson, sports, and kids. He was strong believer in helping others, and in his own quiet way, always provided encouragement, opportunity, and assistance to those in need of a helping hand. While this was true for people of all ages, Vic was especially fond of cheering on underdogs and young athletes, and believed all kids should have an opportunity to experience the lessons, camaraderie, and joy of participation in recreational activities.

Therefore, our family has decided that in lieu of flowers friends and family may make donations to the Hudson Recreation Department in memory of Vic. We ask that the recreation department utilize the donations received in Vic’s name to waive or subsidize fees for children from economic struggling families. We hope that some child growing up in Hudson will feel and someday pass on a love and appreciation of community, sport, and friendship that our family realized growing up in Hudson and that Vic exemplified.

Thank you again for your assistance and hope this letter makes our family’s intentions clear. Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss should you need further clarification or if we need to do anything differently. However, please give me a little time as these coming days are going to be very difficult.

Sincerely,

Mary Billings Sherman, Charles Billings, John Billings