Bill's obituary
William “Bill” Edward Ferrier, 79, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable intellect, deep kindness, and a life lived to the fullest.
Born in Berkeley, California, and raised in Sacramento, Bill was a man of high intelligence. He possessed a brilliant, analytical mind for numbers and statistics—a talent that fueled his lifelong passion for baseball. A devotee of the Dodgers going back to their Brooklyn days, Bill’s loyalty remained unshakable when the team moved to Los Angeles in 1958. He proudly cherished his 1955 World Series jacket, a symbol of his enduring dedication to the game.
Bill’s competitive spirit also shone at the card table. Taught by his grandmother, "Mimi," he became an exceptional Bridge player. He played competitively from his college years onward, meticulously keeping journals of his hands and studying Bridge World magazine to sharpen his game.
A truly gregarious man who found community everywhere, Bill was a leader in the Sierra Singles and a dedicated member of the Montclair Presbyterian Church’s "Extended Family" group. He was a man in constant motion—whether hiking the Grand Canyon in a single day, folk dancing in Greece, or winning awards for public speaking with Toastmasters.
It was this love of dancing that changed his life forever. While attending a ballroom dance at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, Bill spotted a woman in a bright blue dress across the room and declared, "I'm dancing with her." That dance led to 34 wonderful years of marriage to the love of his life, Debbie.
Bill is survived by his wife, Debbie; his brothers, Richard Ferrier, Howard Ferrier, and Harris Hunt; and numerous loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
A casual celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14th, at 1:00PM at St. John's Cemetery (910 Oregon Ave, San Mateo, CA 94402). A reception will follow at the home of Pam and Michael Hollar in San Mateo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.