William Avrum Karp age 79, of Ashland, Mass died on July 21, 2024 in his home in Ashland, Massachusetts from Pancreatic Cancer, surrounded by his wife and daughters.

Bill (Billy, Willy, Pops, Goompa, Goomps) was a dear husband to Catherine Rooney, loving parent to Audra Karp and Isadora Howard-Karp, kind father-in-law to Deb Albenberg and Marisa Howard-Karp, devoted grandfather to Emmett, Lucy, Ila, Evelyn, Isabell, and Hazaiah, caring brother and brother-in-law to Winifred & Steve Boggs, and ex-husband to Linda Arkow.

Bill was born in the Bronx on June 24, 1945 to Ida and Aaron Karp, secular Jews from Manhattan and Brooklyn respectively. He got his master's degree in fine arts in Photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and moved to Massachusetts to study photography with Minor White in 1973. He worked as a photographic artist and wedding photographer for some time until he began working as a carpenter, eventually learning cabinetry and fine woodworking. In 1985, he started his own business called Karp Woodworks.

In 1994, Bill married Catherine Rooney, who he met on a gig.  They bought a house in Ashland, where he moved his woodshop and continued working on film sets and events.  He worked set construction on movies as a carpenter and propmaker, credits include: The Crucible, Company Men, A Civil Action and State & Main. He worked on others like Jumanji and Me, Myself & Irene.

Bill was one of the founding members and past president of Eastern Massachusetts Guild of Woodworkers. As a cabinet and furniture maker, he built residential and commercial built-ins and free-standing units. As an environmentalist, he put special care in making sure the wood he used was sustainably harvested and chemical free. He built many gadgets that can be found around his house and car. He also helped with home projects including flooring, cabinets, backpack box and chicken coop. He was the dad to call for advice when there was a leak, holes in the wall, or ceilings falling in. He even took in his daughter's chickens when they were asked to leave the city where they lived.

Bill was always curious about the world and loved to learn new things. He read New Yorkers from cover to cover and enjoyed discussing articles he read. He had a warm smile and charmed everyone he met. He was quiet, easy going, generous with his attention, and always up for a game. He had a good sense of humor and didn't mind when his family made fun of him. He loved eating and snacking and spending time with his family. He was a popular grandparent with his "grands", putting in his share of babysitting when they were young. He showed up for family birthdays, brunches, shabbat dinners, and barbecues, performances, games, often arriving early and always staying late. His presence will be greatly missed.

Funeral Service will be held at Matarese Funeral Home, Ashland on Monday, July 29, 2024 at 2pm, followed by interment at Wildwood Cemetery, Ashland.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in William's name to DanaFarber.JimmyFund.org .

To attend the Funeral Service virtually, please use this zoom link: William Karp Funeral Service