William Allen Mason

William Allen Mason, 90, passed away on February 10, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona, likely due to a heart condition. He was born in Manchester, Ohio, on November 19, 1934.

William Mason first went by “Bill” or “Uncle Bill” to friends and family. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1952. His career in banking began when he was hired as a message scrambler for Goodyear Bank in Akron, Ohio. He progressed to teller, then branch manager, and finished as a VP of Human Resources with National City Bank. He retired early and took up sales at Don Drumm Gallery. In 1995, he moved to his beloved Tucson with its unique flora, perpetual sunshine, and ever-changing mountain views. He went by “Mason” (how he was called in the military) in the second half of his life and devoted his endless energy to the gay community, singing in the Reveille Men’s Chorus, and adopting out dogs from the shelter – earning him yet another nickname, “The Dog Father.” Perhaps you have owned one of those dogs.

Mason loved to cook. Feeding people was his greatest expression of love. Life was a buffet. His gardens were on the Akron Garden Tour and he prized his native plants and gardens in Tucson. He valued creativity of every kind. He participated in and surrounded himself with art and artists, opera and theater, and baseball and basketball. In the latter part of his life, he embraced far-flung travel with his spouses. He was at the inauguration of the President of Chile in Machu Picchu. Mason’s last trip was to northern Italy in October 2024 and a revisit to his beloved Villa Cappelli in Terlizzi for a week of cooking and touring the area and restaurants (a 90th birthday gift from Ted). He was so glad he could take this month-long trip. Mason was preparing fresh pasta just 2 months before he passed.

Many don’t know it, but Mason entered the Air Force at 23 years old in December of 1957, shortly after the Korean War which ended in 1953, and in 1958 was trained at Lackland AFB in Texas. He served at TAC Headquarters in Virginia where he was in personnel and left service in 1963 as an E-4. TAC shaped Cold War airpower, later merging into Air Combat Command.

Mason’s biological parents were John David Mason and Christina E. Hemmings Mason. He was the youngest of 5 siblings: John D. Mason, Stanley M. Mason, Annette I. Mason Smith, and James S. Mason. Mason’s father left the family shortly after Mason’s birth. He was raised by his immigrant mother, and, after she fell ill, by his brothers and area residents including the Marklings. The Marklings later took on the role of foster grandparents to Mason’s 2 children. Mason is survived by his spouse, Theodore J. Beloin, his daughter, Jennifer H. Mason, and his sister, Annette. He is predeceased by his wife, Vivienne S. Mason, his son, Andrew M. Mason, his first husband, Joel S. Meister, and his 3 brothers, John, Stan, and Jim. He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, we know Mason would want you to donate to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona or a special animal shelter near you, and in Tucson: Casa de los Niños, Youth on Their Own, or the University of Arizona Baseball team. There will not be a viewing or funeral service. There will be a Celebration of Life in mid-April of 2025.