We have just heard from Dale Hahne--through Bill's sister--that Bill died this morning. He was a unique guy, always up for some fun, and he will be missed by many classmates who have shared a team, a drink, or a laugh with Bill.
Even though I'd not been in contact with Bill until recently via FB - we made this instant connection due to Bill's wonderful sense of humor and sense of LIFE!!! How can you not connect with this guy!!! I was so excited about seeing him at the reunion and we even discussed the HUG we'd share! I'm still huggin' him, just not as close as I'd like it to be!!
Bill was an active poster on this site and his good humor was much appreciated in school and via this forum. RIP, Bill. As a recognition of Bill's willingness to share with us, how about we all endeavor to get this class conversation REALLY going? Why wait til the reunion?
After not having seen or spoken to Bill in 50 years, what a pleasure it was to reconnect with him on fb, email and to hear his voice, over the phone, just a short time ago. To hear him speak of his life these past 50 years was something akin to reading a memoir. I got to know Bill as a witty, fun loving, caring man. I so looked forward to the pictures of his family that he shared. And when he spoke of his Mom or posted a picture of her, well, you could truly feel the love he felt for her. When I wake in the morn and check my email and there is nothing from Billy, the emptiness is palpable. I will, forever, miss the "Billyisims"...."Are you okay, kid?", You gotta get out more" and my fave, "Don't you have something to do, young lady?".
Epicurus said, "Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?"
Mark's notes about Wayne Wipert and John Vance have inspired me to share with you some fond thoughts about Bill Lewis, with a little bit of Bill Brynjolfsson thrown in.
Bill and I became friends when they moved here from Decatur and joined the class of '63. After high school, Bill went to North Central College in Naperville, and I went to Elmhurst College. When neither of us was engaged in academics, or our part-time employment, we would hang out, mostly at the Swank Cue Club in Glen Ellyn, my basement bar room, or in whatever taverns would serve us. Bill's grandparents lived on Brown's Lake in WI and we would spend most of our days off, throughout the year, fishing, snow-mobiling, or hanging out in whatever taverns would serve us.
After our Junior year, I enlisted in the Army. While I was overseas, Bill finished school and began working with special-needs children at Little Friends Sheltered Workshop in Naperville, and, maintained his part-time job at Sears in Oakbrook.
My brother and I were both in the service at the same time. I am forever grateful to Bill......and Jim Iversen......for keeping in touch with my mother and grandmother to see if they were doing OK. This allowed me to concentrate on matters at hand rather than worrying about the homested. While gone, Bill married Patty John (GE '63)
After my discharge from the Army, I went back to Elmhurst College and Bill Brynjolfsson got me a part-time sales job with him at Sears. As established as they were, I don't think Sears was really ready for the three of us. While our work was good, our lunch breaks were sometimes long and included adult beverages. That was a prelude to our after hours activities, mostly at Mac's Golden Pheasant, or whatever other tavern would continue to serve us.
Bill Lewis, an accomplished carpenter, built the backbar at the Vicious Circle, a disco-type establishment in Roselle being opened by Greg Morgan (Rick's brother). They were looking for bartenders and Bill recommended me. The two Bill's now knew a bartender who would drive them home instead of cutting them off. The downside was that it took me two years to complete my last year at College. The plus side was that I met my wife at the Vicious Circle.
It seemed like Bill & Patty, Bill & Rhonda (Boland GE '63), Chris & I were always together. Seldom a weekend went by when there wasn't a party at one of our houses.
Bill Lewis and I had an extra income hobby of repairing/refinishing/reselling antique furniture. It was fairly lucrative, so we decided to open a shop. We found a perfect building on Ogden Ave in Lisle and opened Williamsdale Antiques. (Williams Dale, get it?) Bill worked it full time. I worked it part time as I had started my law enforcement career and worked the mid-night shift. We offered stripping, refinishing and retail services.
In 1975 I was transferred to WI and, shortly thereafter, we sold the business. Truth be told, the clever name of our business was about the only success. Perhaps the 'Gone Fishing', 'Gone Golfing', Gone Card-Playing', 'Gone Drinking', or just 'Gone' signs that hung in the window about as often as the 'Open' sign had an impact.
Bill then went to work for Grubb Company as a Sales Rep. His sense of humor, wit and charisma made him a natural and he pretty much ended up running the Company's Sperry Rand account.
Although we never stopped hanging out while I was in WI, my transfer back home gave us more opportunity. Now, though, it was family gatherings with Bill's two and my three children. To this day, mine refer to him as Uncle Bill.
I can't remember the date, but sometime mid to late 80's, Bill and Patty divorced. Bill went though a rough time for a spell and lived with us until he eventually moved in with his Grandmother in WI. After she passed, he moved in with his mother and youngest sister in FL. As I said earlier, he was a craftsman and was employed as a cabinet maker outfitting large yachts. He enjoyed this until a few years ago when the economy took it's toll on yacht sales/service. Bill was laid off and spent the rest of his life visiting family and friends for extended periods of time.
We kept in touch via e-mails and telephone conversations but he only stayed with us a few times, mostly on his way to/from WI. His health had deterioriated and age brought on some hip/knee problems. I last spoke with him about a week before he passed and he was really looking forward to staying with us when he came in for the reunion.
On the morning of May 26, Debbie (Bill's sister) called with the sad news. Bill had just arrived in FL and was fatigued. He had earlier had a valve replacement and told me he wasn't sure if his new "flapper" was "flapping" when it should. He was admitted to the hospital, early prognosis was good, but he passed away at about 6 AM. I felt that a large part of my life had also passed.
For those of you who are still reading this, and those who never witnessed Bill's sense of humor, I'll share an example. On a chilly October morning, Bill and I were having an antique sale in my yard. Patty was an avid runner and decided to end her long run at my house to see how the sale was going. She had carried her sweat pants rather than get over-heated while she ran. While standing with us, however, she began to get cold. The yard was fairly full of customers milling around when Patty decided to put on her sweat pants. While she was doing that, Bill said in a loud voice "I'm sorry, Lady, you're still going to need cash"!
Bill and I closely shared the past 52 years of our lives. There were many more good times than bad, many more happy than sad. I will miss him for the rest of mine.
Judith Rae Long (Reinking)
Even though I'd not been in contact with Bill until recently via FB - we made this instant connection due to Bill's wonderful sense of humor and sense of LIFE!!! How can you not connect with this guy!!! I was so excited about seeing him at the reunion and we even discussed the HUG we'd share! I'm still huggin' him, just not as close as I'd like it to be!!
Always in our hearts, Bill! Judy Long-Reinking
William Gibson Heller
Bill was an active poster on this site and his good humor was much appreciated in school and via this forum. RIP, Bill. As a recognition of Bill's willingness to share with us, how about we all endeavor to get this class conversation REALLY going? Why wait til the reunion?
Michaelyn J. Vruno (Romanzow)
After not having seen or spoken to Bill in 50 years, what a pleasure it was to reconnect with him on fb, email and to hear his voice, over the phone, just a short time ago. To hear him speak of his life these past 50 years was something akin to reading a memoir. I got to know Bill as a witty, fun loving, caring man. I so looked forward to the pictures of his family that he shared. And when he spoke of his Mom or posted a picture of her, well, you could truly feel the love he felt for her. When I wake in the morn and check my email and there is nothing from Billy, the emptiness is palpable. I will, forever, miss the "Billyisims"...."Are you okay, kid?", You gotta get out more" and my fave, "Don't you have something to do, young lady?".
Raymond A. Radvillas
Dale Hahne
Mark's notes about Wayne Wipert and John Vance have inspired me to share with you some fond thoughts about Bill Lewis, with a little bit of Bill Brynjolfsson thrown in.
Bill and I became friends when they moved here from Decatur and joined the class of '63. After high school, Bill went to North Central College in Naperville, and I went to Elmhurst College. When neither of us was engaged in academics, or our part-time employment, we would hang out, mostly at the Swank Cue Club in Glen Ellyn, my basement bar room, or in whatever taverns would serve us. Bill's grandparents lived on Brown's Lake in WI and we would spend most of our days off, throughout the year, fishing, snow-mobiling, or hanging out in whatever taverns would serve us.
After our Junior year, I enlisted in the Army. While I was overseas, Bill finished school and began working with special-needs children at Little Friends Sheltered Workshop in Naperville, and, maintained his part-time job at Sears in Oakbrook.
My brother and I were both in the service at the same time. I am forever grateful to Bill......and Jim Iversen......for keeping in touch with my mother and grandmother to see if they were doing OK. This allowed me to concentrate on matters at hand rather than worrying about the homested. While gone, Bill married Patty John (GE '63)
After my discharge from the Army, I went back to Elmhurst College and Bill Brynjolfsson got me a part-time sales job with him at Sears. As established as they were, I don't think Sears was really ready for the three of us. While our work was good, our lunch breaks were sometimes long and included adult beverages. That was a prelude to our after hours activities, mostly at Mac's Golden Pheasant, or whatever other tavern would continue to serve us.
Bill Lewis, an accomplished carpenter, built the backbar at the Vicious Circle, a disco-type establishment in Roselle being opened by Greg Morgan (Rick's brother). They were looking for bartenders and Bill recommended me. The two Bill's now knew a bartender who would drive them home instead of cutting them off. The downside was that it took me two years to complete my last year at College. The plus side was that I met my wife at the Vicious Circle.
It seemed like Bill & Patty, Bill & Rhonda (Boland GE '63), Chris & I were always together. Seldom a weekend went by when there wasn't a party at one of our houses.
Bill Lewis and I had an extra income hobby of repairing/refinishing/reselling antique furniture. It was fairly lucrative, so we decided to open a shop. We found a perfect building on Ogden Ave in Lisle and opened Williamsdale Antiques. (Williams Dale, get it?) Bill worked it full time. I worked it part time as I had started my law enforcement career and worked the mid-night shift. We offered stripping, refinishing and retail services.
In 1975 I was transferred to WI and, shortly thereafter, we sold the business. Truth be told, the clever name of our business was about the only success. Perhaps the 'Gone Fishing', 'Gone Golfing', Gone Card-Playing', 'Gone Drinking', or just 'Gone' signs that hung in the window about as often as the 'Open' sign had an impact.
Bill then went to work for Grubb Company as a Sales Rep. His sense of humor, wit and charisma made him a natural and he pretty much ended up running the Company's Sperry Rand account.
Although we never stopped hanging out while I was in WI, my transfer back home gave us more opportunity. Now, though, it was family gatherings with Bill's two and my three children. To this day, mine refer to him as Uncle Bill.
I can't remember the date, but sometime mid to late 80's, Bill and Patty divorced. Bill went though a rough time for a spell and lived with us until he eventually moved in with his Grandmother in WI. After she passed, he moved in with his mother and youngest sister in FL. As I said earlier, he was a craftsman and was employed as a cabinet maker outfitting large yachts. He enjoyed this until a few years ago when the economy took it's toll on yacht sales/service. Bill was laid off and spent the rest of his life visiting family and friends for extended periods of time.
We kept in touch via e-mails and telephone conversations but he only stayed with us a few times, mostly on his way to/from WI. His health had deterioriated and age brought on some hip/knee problems. I last spoke with him about a week before he passed and he was really looking forward to staying with us when he came in for the reunion.
On the morning of May 26, Debbie (Bill's sister) called with the sad news. Bill had just arrived in FL and was fatigued. He had earlier had a valve replacement and told me he wasn't sure if his new "flapper" was "flapping" when it should. He was admitted to the hospital, early prognosis was good, but he passed away at about 6 AM. I felt that a large part of my life had also passed.
For those of you who are still reading this, and those who never witnessed Bill's sense of humor, I'll share an example. On a chilly October morning, Bill and I were having an antique sale in my yard. Patty was an avid runner and decided to end her long run at my house to see how the sale was going. She had carried her sweat pants rather than get over-heated while she ran. While standing with us, however, she began to get cold. The yard was fairly full of customers milling around when Patty decided to put on her sweat pants. While she was doing that, Bill said in a loud voice "I'm sorry, Lady, you're still going to need cash"!
Bill and I closely shared the past 52 years of our lives. There were many more good times than bad, many more happy than sad. I will miss him for the rest of mine.