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PELHAM - After five months of illness, Dr. William Hazelett, 64, died in his Pelham home Jan. 15, 2012, surrounded by his loving family.

Bill was born in Punxsutawney, Pa., on Dec. 28, 1947.

He was predeceased by his father, Howard Silas Hazelett of Kansas City, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Sophia Gergely; his mother, Lois Hazelett of Amherst; sons, Evan and Ross Hazelett; sister, Susan Carne and her husband, Scott, and their three sons, Bradley, Dana and Jeffrey Carne of Omaha, Neb.

Bill was the perfect mix of professor, clinician, family man, philosopher and lover of nature - hugger of trees and his beloved German shepherds. Graduating from North Kansas High School, he earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Missouri in Kansas City, a doctorate in experimental psychology at the University of Minnesota, and, later, a respecializing doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In between degrees, he did post-doctoral work at the University of Connecticut in Storrs and held teaching positions at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown and Amherst College.

Until his death, Bill almost equally divided his time between his work as a forensic psychologist for the state of Massachusetts and supporting his boys' full sports agendas. A much-loved coach and, later, a familiar and faithful fan and supporter at all his sons' football, soccer and baseball games, he braved the worst and best of hardy New England weather.

He raised his boys in the timber frame house he built in the wooded hills of Pelham with his first wife, Donna Ross, and served in their elementary years on the Pelham School Committee. He was assistant coach of Amherst's Little League Baseball Howard Johnson Tigers team from 2000 to 2003, and Evan still recalls how his friends clamored to be awarded a position on his pop's team. Bill coached on both of his sons' PVJSL Amherst travel soccer teams from 1995 to 2005, the final year of which they placed third at the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions.

In addition to his role as an encouraging sports dad, Bill taught his boys the value of participating in a wide variety of activities. They developed into well-rounded students who appreciated the pursuit of formal scholarship as well as of skills and immersion in music of all kinds - classical, blues and rock alike.

Memorial donations may be made to the D'Amour Center for Cancer Care at the Baystate Health Foundation.

Bill's family plans to hold a memorial celebration at their Pelham home sometime in the early spring.