On Feb. 27, 1946, Bill Davis was born on Balboa Island in Newport Beach, California. He was the son of Jack and Frieda Davis. Both parents graduated from UCLA. Frieda graduated with a degree in nutrition, which introduced Bill to how important nutrition was. This he practiced his entire life.

Bill’s father skippered the ferry between the island and the mainland while awaiting a position at L.T.A. El Toro Marine Base. When Jack was hired as head engineer at El Toro, that prompted the family’s move to Santa Ana, California. Bill attended Santa Ana High, where he was class president.

Bill spent his youth riding his bike all over the back Bay Area in Newport Beach. He had one sibling Suzanne Robinson. Bill attended UCSB as an English major, going on to Officers Candidate School in Kentucky.

Surfing and playing volleyball through out his school years, in summer he worked with the Los Padre Hot Shots.

Bill never needed an alarm clock, as he could wake up at whatever time was required. He also lived in San Francisco and truly enjoyed the City by the Bay. During the Vietnam war, he participated in many rallies against this needless war.

He met his future wife at UCSB. They drove the Alcan Highway (Alaska-Canadian Highway) in an old VW before settling in Half Moon Bay, California, where Bill worked as a dairyman and carpenter. He started a cottage industry making wooden toys that they sold at the local craft fairs all over the Bay Area.

Moving to Sacramento, Bill attended Sacramento State with his trusted dog Hilda at his side. Expecting their first child, he and his wife moved back to Santa Barbara and gave birth to their daughter, Brandyn. (It was the first natural child birth at Cottage Hospital.)

The family moved to Williams, Oregon, where they purchased 13 acres, and Bill built his first of many homes.

Bill loved listening to Miles Davis, Gershwin, Bob Dylan, and Western music. The outdoors and gardening filled his soul with joy. Bill was always helping neighbors out whenever it was needed.

In 1978, Bill made a life change and moved back to a city he loved, Santa Barbara. He went to work in the construction field. Living on the Upper Eastside, he met his future wife, Trish, through a mutual friend. They were neighbors, living four houses away from one another.

Their first date was the Old Casablanca restaurant on New Year’s Day. When they started dating it was a real eye-opener. Trish and Bill’s first wife, Barbara, not only shared the same occupation of flying for two major airlines, but also worked in the nursing field, and were born on the same day, 9/11.

Bill built a home on Shoreline Drive, and he and Trish were married on Feb. 14 on a bluff above the ocean. Bill’s daughter Brandyn came to live with them and they had an instant family.

Bill was offered a job with the city of Santa Barbara as a plans examiner/engineer. You could spot him always wearing one of his many Hawiian shirts. Bill was responsible for the Santa Barbara Seismic Retrofit Program; the remodel of the Santa Barbara Main Library; and the ADA Program, which enabled people with disabilities to navigate the city.

He felt, as a city employee, he was there to do the best job possible for the public. At Bill’s and Trish’s wedding, they had a hot dog cart as part of the decor. Everyone enjoyed this old-fashion addition to the reception, and with that thought in mind, Bill came up with the idea to build a stainless steel hot dog cart.

This came out of an idea that everyone should be able to have lunch at the base of the wharf that they could afford, even if they had a large family. Thus the Hot Dog Construction Co. was born. It was the first vending cart in the city of Santa Barbara.

Bill and Trish bought their first boat, an inflatable Avon. Bill told the chandlery we would be back to purchase a larger boat in the future. They bought a 42-foot Mathews power boat to live aboard.

Their first night aboard just happened to be the night one of the biggest storms to ever hit Santa Barbara Harbor. They made it through and spent the next three years living aboard in Marina 2, making friendships that lasted a lifetime.

In the ’90s Bill was asked by Commodore Jim Zimmerman to join the Santa Barbara Yacht Club (SBYC). This began an incredible journey lasting the rest of his life. Bill’s time at the SBYC was spent sailing on Alakazam, the first of many adventures.

He became a partner with Jim Zimmerman and son Brian on Tiny Dancer, a J 24. Bill also became part of Prime Time with Pinky Cook and Peter Churchill, and Charles Browning asked him to crew on Bebe. Bill sailed Wet Wednesdays, King Harbor, and dozens of out-of-town regattas.

He loved being on the water, always saying it was not about winning, but about sailing with friends and having a good time.

During the time Bill was sailing, he also purchased a Catalina 27, a Hunter 27, a Cape Dory, and a J 24. The last boat was Fire Fly, a Harbor 20. He partnered with Bob Duncan and Jack Byers, and special crew member Emily Duncan, his surrogate granddaughter.

Bill won many sailing  trophies and served on many club committees: the race committee, house and grounds, and the trophy committee. He served on the Board of Directors for two years as secretary. He spent countless hours helping Trish with the entertainment committee, always in the background carrying, packing and storing all the decorations. With out his help, she could have never finished the job. Bill even stepped up to participate in the Coastal Clean Up Day in September.

They enjoyed Friday evenings at the club with Daine and Beto, and of course, Pablo. Our wonderful hardworking team.

Trish and Bill purchased a beautiful property on Orcas Island in the San Juans. Bill loved the outdoors and the beauty of the island. Things changed, with them needing to be closer to Santa Barbara due to a family illness. In 1982, they purchased their first of many homes in Palm Springs.

While working for Parsons Engineering as project manager for the new La Quinta Post Office, Bill made time to totally remodeled one of the first historic home in Palm Springs, later adding a bungalow for Trish’s dad to move into. Bill also had his own father in assisted living in Palm Springs. Accompanying them was their beloved airedale, Mick.

Bill was instrumental in helping to organize the first Historic Tennis Club Neighborhood Organization in the 80’s, a program that has now expanded to 45 neighborhoods.

Trish and Bill had just bought a new condo in the same great neighborhood. Bill loved Palm Springs’ great weather. With all this happening, he made time to write a grant to the city of Ventura to secure funds to build and open the doors of Christopher House, a home for men, women, and children with AIDS, named after Bill’s brother-in-law, Chris.

Bill was active with the Montecito Fourth of July Parade, always offering a helping hand, and many times playing Santa for the children. They were fortunate to live in many magical places: artist Edward Borien’s art studio, Dragonfly Cottage on the old Potter Estate, the incredible old Armour Estate, El Mirador, for many years, and walking the beautiful neighborhoods of Montecito.

In the early ’80s, The El Escorial at East Beach became their home. It was close to the volleyball courts and Fernando’s East Beach Grill, serving up the best blueberry pancakes in town. It was perfect for that time in their lives. The time Trish and Bill had together was filled with wonderful and devoted friends, neighbors, and grand times.

He felt so fortunate for his time on this planet, and he was always positive, knowing that others may not be as fortunate. He felt blessed.

They had many road and train trips across the U.S. and Mexico. They were fortunate to travel to France and England just before Covid struck, with seven wonderful weeks of travel. It was amazing for Bill to speak French, the language he studied so long ago. Bill was always searching for our new adventure.

On Dec. 4, 2020, their world came tumbling down. Preparing to leave for Palm Springs after a volleyball game at East Beach, Bill had a startling pain. At that point he was off to cardiology, resulting in a triple bypass surgery. It came as a total shock. He was meticulous about his diet and exercise, and had passed a stress test three weeks previous.

Bill breezed through the surgery, but spent two months with lung issues. As if that wasn’t enough, they discovered a platelet problem, acute leukemia. Even with this diagnosis, Bill never faltered. He was positive the entire journey. With incredible loss of strength and weight, he never asked, “Why me?”

Here was a man who paddle-boarded, wind-surfed, bicycled, and played volleyball as much as possible every day. He was the picture of health. He was loved by the Infusion Clinic at Cottage, being a regular there, and always bringing a smile to their faces.

Bill was a special guy. He believed in living his life in the Buddhist tradition. He studied yoga for 13 years with Helen Vreeland, and was a kind and gentle soul. Bill was looking forward to going back to France and England.

He loved reading, writing, and watching old movies, especially Westerns. He loved Red Stripe beer, red wine, and Bulleit Rye. Being the chef in the family, he loved gardening and cooking, especially vegetables and other healthy food. Chinese food was his favorite, especially Kung Pao Chicken.

Over the years, Bill supported the Campaign for Tibet, St. Jude’s Hospital, Salvation Army, Organic Soup Kitchen, and Public Broadcast Stations, just to name a few. Along with that, on a social level, the Santa Barbara Navy League, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.

When Cafe Del Sol closed after many years, Bill and Trish loved going to The Bistro, Arnoldi’s, Jill’s, and the Pickle Room to see Willy and the gang. Not sailing any more, the beach was a special place to him.

As he grew older, he especially enjoyed volleyball and paddle boarding. The volleyball players were dear to his heart. Sunday was very special, and East Beach was his happy place. He talked about putting sand tires on his walker that would enable him to go to the games and joke around with the guys.

Bill was not an observer, he was a participant, so now not able to do that, he took it with total acceptance. On July 28, 2021, just before midnight, Bill passed away at Cottage Hospital, with his wife of 44 years at his side. In honor of Bill and his 76th birthday on Feb. 27, with support of the players, they spread some of Bill’s ashes on the court he loved so very much.

Bill was a kind soul, and he lived a life of service. He navigated his last months with great dignity, strength, peace and acceptance. Trish feels so very fortunate to have shared all those magical years. She is so very proud of him, and feels he will walk beside her and guide her. She is forever grateful because he loved her, once upon a time.

Bill’s Celebration of a Life Well Lived will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 2 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Montecito. It will be followed by a celebration at the Santa Barbara Yacht Club (casual attire). R.S.V.P. to bdavisharmony@aol.com.