William F. (Bill) Mahon

William F. (Bill) Mahon, 77, passed away on March 11, 2018. Born January 12, 1941, in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, Bill was the son of Donald Burns and Elizabeth Jane Mahon. He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 57 years, Maureen Payne Mahon; daughters, Michele Mahon of Columbia, Jennifer Mahon of Columbia, Laurie Craft of Columbia, Katie Rama (John) of Charleston; grandchildren, Robin Otterbacher (Mike Usry), Brandi Pumphrey (Matt), Maggie Rector, Matthew Rector, Emily Craft, Michael Rama (Sarah), Maureen Rama and William Rama; great-grandchildren, Delaney Pumphrey, Walter and Salley Rama; sisters, Judy Hewitt (Jim) of Erie Beach, Ontario, Linda Pettipiece (Marvin) of Chatham, Ontario, and a brother, Paul Mahon (Debby) of Comber, Ontario; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his daughter, Kristen Ann Mahon, and son-in-law, Larry Craft. Bill was a graduate of Governors State University, Park Forest South, Illinois. He was a pioneer in the field of computer programming beginning in 1961 with the International Harvester Company of Canada then with the Fisher Body Division of General Motors, Oakland Community College in Michigan, Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois, the Illinois Foundation for Medical Care and the South Carolina Medical Care Foundation. In 1983, he was employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) where he retired in 2003. Bill was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in 2003 by Governor Mark Sanford, the South Carolina Medical Association Presidents Award (1989) and the American Medical Association Medical Executive Achievement Award (2001).He served four years in the Canadian Army Reserves, was a charter member of the Irmo Navy and a member of the South Carolina Military History Club. Bill served a variety of professional organizations including Treasurer of the Physicians Foundation for Health Systems Excellence and the Physicians Foundation for Health Systems Innovation (2003 -- 2007); member, Board of Visitors at the Medical University of South Carolina (2001 -- 2002); member, Board of Directors of the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) (1993 -- 2003);Rural Physicians Incentive Board (1993 -- 2003); SC Data Oversight Council (1994 -- 2003); Regional Advisory Board, National Bank of South Carolina; Health Benefits Committee of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce (1993 -- 2003); Chairman, South Carolina Civil Justice Coalition (1984 -- 1985); Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Reform (1992 -- 1994); member, Board of Directors of the American Association of Professional Standards Review Organizations (1978 -- 1979). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kristen Mahon Scholarship Fund payable to the SCMA Foundation, PO Box 11188, Columbia, SC, 29211. This scholarship provides financial aid to medical students who are graduates of either Irmo High School or Lander University and attend medical school in South Carolina. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2018 at Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church, 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC 29210. Father John Murray will officiate. A private burial will be held at Bush River Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Temples Halloran Funeral Home, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.