Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Bill’s family moved to California when he was three years old. His early years were spent in Los Angeles and his family moved to Turlock when he was in the 8th grade. Bill was a proud graduate of Johnson Joint Elementary School, Turlock High School, Modesto Junior College and UCLA School of Law with the honors of Order of the Coif and Law Review.
Bill began his legal career in the State Attorney General’s Office in Sacramento and he later began two law firms in Sacramento before leaving to teach law at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio and Mississippi College of Law in Jackson, Mississippi.
He returned to Turlock in 1986 and joined his friend Ronald Sarhad at his law practice in Turlock. He then joined the law firm Borton, Petrini & Conron in Modesto. In 1994 Governor Pete Wilson decided he had practiced enough and appointed him a judge to the Stanislaus County Superior Court where he served with distinction until his retirement in 2017. Bill was instrumental in bringing CASA and Inns of Court to Stanislaus County. His favorite saying was, “The only place you will find success before work is in the dictionary.” Bill was a very hardworking man but rarely after 5 pm or on the weekends because that was his dedicated family time.
Bill spent 12 years in the California National Guard and retired as a Major. He was a member of Turlock Noon Rotary and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served his community as a trustee on the Turlock High School Board of Trustees for several years.
Bill loved traveling throughout the United States, fine dining and reading historical biographies and murder mysteries. He was a loving, kind and generous man to his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife Marianne, two sons and three grandchildren who were the apples of his eye.
Thank you to El Rio Memory Care in Modesto for their kindness, care and support of our loved one. Thank you also to SEVA Hospice for their kindness, care and support.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Alzheimer’s Association.
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