Pennsylvania couple make oldest adoption for 74-year-old friend: “We just love him”

It’s not often that you see a couple show up to Orphan Court in America to adopt a man decades older than themselves – but then again, it’s not often that you see a relationship as close as between William “Bill” Stains and the Fiscus family. 

In 2020, the couple officially adopted their beloved baseball umpire, teacher, and friend when Bill was 74 years and 303 days old, making the devoted community member the Guinness World Records title holder for the oldest adoption (male) – as well as their new son. 

And now, nearly six years after they completed that fated process, the family (including Bill) are able to reflect upon the life-changing decision that brought new love and a new octogenarian offspring into their lives. 

“It’s amazing,” said Bill, who also goes by the name Coach. “When they adopted me, I had no idea that we were gonna go any further [with a new record]. 

“I’m humbled, and I’m thankful to both of these wonderful people, and I’m honoured to be the oldest adopted male in the world.”

Bill has known the Fiscus family for years – going all the way back to Ryan’s youth baseball career, when “Coach” (at that time, known as Mr Stains) worked as an umpire at most of his games. Later, Ryan’s family moved, but it only brought them closer to Bill as he worked as a teacher at the nearby middle school. 

“I’ve known Bill for as long as I can remember,” said Ryan, fondly thinking back to when he was a batboy and Coach was making the calls. He describes Bill as “loyal to everything and everybody that surrounds him”, a fact that is plain to see in their decades-long friendship.

Bill with his wife and three sons

And when Jessica joined Ryan’s family, Bill was elated for the happy couple, saying that meeting her was one of the best days of his life. 

When asked to pick her best three personality traits, the loving son said: “I’ll try and keep it to three, but I could go on for probably an hour.

“Her compassion. She’s a very compassionate individual. Friendly – you couldn’t meet a more friendly person. And she’s genuine,” he continued. “I mean, I love her. What more can I say? And I love him.”

The feeling between Bill and the couple was clearly mutual, as they unofficially absorbed him into their family life, introducing him to friends and family and spending lots of quality time with Coach and his wife. 

Together, the couples spend time playing bingo, hanging out with a good meal, riding motorcycles, and celebrating each other’s accomplishments.

Read more stories about incredible humans breaking records in our Hobbies and Skills section!

Bill and his wife

Yet it wasn’t until 2020 that their relationship finally became legitimate, after Bill and Jessica applied to adopt the 74-year-old formally through Pennsylvania’s Orphan Court. 

Bill’s parents, William Sr and Kathryn Stains, passed away in 2003, and even though he says he looks forward to meeting them again in heaven someday, he was open to the idea of having this new relationship with the Fiscuses. 

Bill with his brother and parents

The three of them spent lots of time volunteering with a local veteran’s organization, but Bill couldn’t be a full member unless one of his direct family members served – and for his generosity and loyalty to the charity, as well as the general community, the couple knew the only option was to make him an official part of their lives.

“Jokingly one day in the garage I stated that the only option we really had left at that point was to adopt him,” said Ryan. “And immediately after, Bill said ‘well I guess that’s what we’re going to have to do!’”

On 12 November, all the paperwork was finalized, and Bill was ceremoniously deemed the adopted child of Ryan and Jessica and the oldest male adoptee in the world. They celebrate the anniversary of his adoption every year, as well as spending birthdays and holidays together, and jokingly referring to each other as “mom”, “dad”, and “son”.

“It gives me so much pleasure to be with them. I just look forward to every time that we get together,” said Bill. “It’s just made me, I think, a better person. And put other people above myself.”

And the Fiscuses agree. 

“[Adopting Bill] I think has brought us closer,” said Jessica. “We fully embrace him as our son, and we treat him like we do our other children. Even though he’s not a child, but we love him like our own.”

Bill with all his new siblings

“I would say that adopting an older person is not so much for their sake, but it’s more about embracing someone older than you that has lived a full life and you can learn from them,” she continued. 

“And you hear all their stories, and it just kind of makes you feel like you’ve done a good thing – not only for yourself and your own family, but for someone else.”

So congratulations to this incredible family – you are all Officially Amazing!