Dearest Friends and Family,
This memorial website was created in honor of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and cousin, Bill. He was born December 5, 1944 in Newark, New Jersey and found his peace May 13, 2016 just outside his childhood hometown of Maplewood, New Jersey with his family at his side.
Growing up, Billy teamed up with brothers Michael and Frankie, “sisters” Joyce and Gail, and many friends (including the Cohen family, Bob, and Barry) to give parents Ethel and Anson (and the rest of Maplewood), all they could handle. After graduating from Columbia High School and then surviving the frigid weather at Allegheny College, Bill pursued both a career in hospital administration at George Washington University and Carolyn Staub. They met on day one of his first job as a hospital administrator and began dating on day two. In October they celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.
A job opportunity at a hospital brought Bill and Carol to Richmond, Virginia where they met many treasured friends who are still like family today. A few years later, the couple welcomed daughter Rachel and then son David. In the ensuing years Dad enjoyed shuttling the kids between dance classes, soccer games and tennis tournaments, not to mention assisting with homework, science projects and other fun activities that come with children. A promotion at work led to extensive travel which made him rethink this career.
So he took the obvious path from hospital administrator to BBQ restaurant owner where his secret sauce was the best in town. During this time he became a member of the Chester Rotary Club and has participated in numerous community service projects over the past 20 years. In retirement, Bill followed his passion for children and learning by substitute teaching at the local elementary schools. This “job” allowed him flexibility to enjoy golfing, hanging out at the library reading, gardening, visiting with friends, and traveling often and extensively with Carol and other family members.
Despite his lifelong pursuit of continuous learning, Bill resisted incorporating what he learned of technology into day to day life. He enjoyed being “old school” with a flip phone, even programming the number for Expedia in to help him plan all their amazing trips (rumor has it Expedia has a website as well). Bill often retold stories of skipping school to go to Yankee Stadium, traveling cross country after college, and attending Woodstock. In more recent years his most loved hobby was spoiling his granddaughters, Sarah and Ella.
A true gentleman, always kind and patient to all, Bill touched many lives and was universally loved. Though we will miss him dearly, we’re grateful for the incredible memories and wish to honor Bill with a Celebration of Life on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at The Boathouse Restaurant in Brandermill, located at 4602 Millridge Parkway, Midlothian, VA. Please feel free to join us anytime between 11:00 am - 2:00pm.
Dad - We hope you are now searching for “The Truth Out There” with Mulder and Scully!
Write to David (david.rauschberg@gmail.com) if you plan to join us for Dad’s celebration.
Please feel free to share your memories of Bill on this site or send them to David, as we plan to compile a memory book to pass on to his granddaughters.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Maplewood New Jersey Library Foundation (https://maplewoodlibraryfoundation.org) or your local library.
