Ellen and Mark Naftalin write:
Bill Evans — the owner of William Evans Painting — is an unsung hero.
His crew, who have been with him for 20+ years, painted our little ranch house 2 years ago, and did a great job.
They caulked, repaired, replaced rotted fascia board, and worked together like a well-oiled machine. Under his watchful eye, everything was finished perfectly.
He’s also done lots of work inside our house. He comes up with solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. A sliding barn door to block off Mark’s music room is just one.
During COVID, he kept his crew working. While other companies were laying off workers, he took care of them. He took jobs for less money than usual, but paid them their usual wages.
I see Bill’s signs all over Westport, and think what a good choice those homeowners made.
Meanwhile though, he is also president of Connecticut Quest for Peace. He devotes much of his time traveling to Nicaragua for this non-profit, delivering donated goods and overseeing programs and services.
His house is filled with music, food, and people who work for him and visit from Nicaragua. We walked by one evening, and were invited into a feast and music event. The language barrier did not stop the joy.
Bill first traveled to Nicaragua in 2002. It was a life-changing experience. He loves the people — especially the children — and has worked with CT Quest for Peace ever since.
His organization is a wonderful way to donate items no longer needed here, but greatly needed in Nicaragua. I gave them my mother’s sewing machine, an old model that works without electricity.
Bill Evans
Bill is as good and modest a human being as you’ll find. We need his kind of selflessness in the world more than ever.
Bill first traveled in 2002 with Randy and Linda Klein and eight other Americans to Nicaragua to visit missions and centers supported by Connecticut Quest for Peace.
Today, the warehouse of William Evans Painting Company in Bridgeport — which manages a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial projects — is also the storage center for CT Quest’s humanitarian aid cargo. It is often overflowing. Bill continues to pick up many of the donations himself.
“We give so much,” Bill says. “But we get back much more.”
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What a terrific story of someone helping others.
Kudos to Bill.
Bill Evans, a well-deserving unsung hero!
Bill is a Westport treasure! We have had the joy of knowing
Bill when he volunteered backstage and also played
Drosselmeyer in the Academy of Dance’s nutcracker
30 years ago. It is not surprising he is helping change
the world for the better. Thank you Bill!
Bill is a true treasure for our community and continues to leave his mark on our local community and the world.
Yes, my brother, Bill, is a great guy, no matter what his friends say! Hehehe!!!! 🤣
What this article leaves off about Bill is that he also donates his time and gives generously to finding housing for those in Bridgeport in need. He helps provide furniture and clothing for those in need there…in addition to the lifesaving work he gives in Nicaragua. He is a most generous man and I pass his name on to everyone I know .
An amazing humanitarian. He helped an indian family that im friendly with, with furniture – donating and delivering it.
Bill is the gold standard by which I often make decisions: “What would Bill do?”
We have always referred to Bill Evans as St. Bill. How privileged are we to have crossed paths with this incredible, selfless and caring man who inspires us to do better each and everyday! Can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition!
Anything I write here will be redundant, but Bill is worth the repetition. They say you become the average of the five people with whom you spend the most time. If you see Bill in a crowd, it is likely a crowd of unsung heroes, like him, to whom acts of kindness seem as effortless and instinctive as breathing.
The fact that Bill is a fantastic painter who cares about his customers is a nice bonus. When I pull up in my driveway at the end of the day and see how nicely painted my house is, I think of Bill and his team, and that thought makes me happy.
This is a wonderful and true description of Bill. He is truly amazing and deserves all the honor you have given him in this article. Thank you for recognizing a wonderful guy.
Linda Klein