William "Biff" Goyette, owner of the Mill Pond Diner and active member of the Wareham community, passed away in his Onset home on Monday after a long battle with cancer.

Emotional farewells are pouring into the Goyette home this week as family members and friends remember an active, energetic man with a big heart.

Goyette, 69, lived in Wareham his entire life and was passionate about building strong connections within the community. "He was friends with everyone," said Lorrian Goyette, his wife of 20 years. "He was a very loving person and a very giving person. His heart was so big."

Her description was echoed by others.

"He had such a sense of community," said state Rep. Susan Williams Gifford, a friend of the Goyette family for 12 years. "This is so tragic. He volunteered food and time. He really cared about his community."

Over the years Goyette, who has owned and operated The Mill Pond Diner since the early 1970s, garnered a reputation as a first-class caterer. He and his staff provided food for weddings, funerals, and local businesses. Just last month, he catered the annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast at the Boys and Girls Club.

"What a loss. He was a gem," said Barbara Sullivan, director of the Boys and Girls Club and a Goyette friend.  "He was a gentleman. Warm, community- and family-oriented."

Goyette was a member the Wareham Elks for more than 40 years. In his spare time, he also enjoyed reading, golfing, and dancing.  However, his work remained his pride and joy.

"He would be in here almost every day,"  said Tim Weisberg, a cook at the Mill Pond Diner, who knew Goyette for 16 years. "He would do anything for anyone."

"He treated his employees like family," Lorrain said, adding that she hopes Weisberg and fellow chef Matt Costa will stay on as cooks at the diner.

Goyette is survived by his wife; daughter, Michelle Goyette; son, Billy Goyette; step-daughter, Wendy Wentworth; granddaughter, Audrey, 1; and grandson Henry, 3; and Rottweiler, Tasha.

A memorial service will be held for Goyette in March at the Elks Lodge in Wareham. The date and time is still undetermined. Condolences to the family can addressed to the Mill Pond Diner at 2571 Cranberry Highway in Wareham.

A complete obituary, still being prepared at presstime, will appear on WarehamVillageSoup.com and in next week's Wareham Week.