William Frederick Bass II ’41

EARLY THIS AUGUST Bill had chest pains and was taken to a hospital in Summit, N.J., where he was stricken by a heart attack so bad that only machines kept him alive. Other complications were discovered. Because both Bill and his wife, Katherine, believed in living wills, his suffering ended Aug. 7, 1991.

Bill was born in Ohio but lived the rest of his life in Westfield, N.J., with time away for a year at the Hill, college, war, and Rutgers Law, He was a blocking quarterback for the high school football team which, in those singlewing days, meant calling signals and cutting the legs off big defensive ends on running plays to the outside something Bill could do with astonishing ferocity. Bad knees kept him out of college football. Against Japan he piloted 30 B29 bomber missions out of the Mariannas, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross. After Rutgers it was back to Westfield for legal practice, community activity, the Presbyterian Church, golf, and helping "Katie" raise Sarah, Susan, and Thomas.

Prior to our 40th reunion, Bill cut himself off from the Class. This was a matter of sorrow to classmates who remembered his bright good cheer. We wish all of the best for Katherine, their children, his sisters Cynthia Turbett and Nancy Doerrer, and his brother Walter.

The Class of 1941