William Robert Meierding

William (Bill) Robert Meierding, age 84, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 11th. In death, as in life, he left with grace, resilience, acceptance, and love.

Bill was born in Berkeley, California, the eldest of four children. He spent much of his life in Ventura County, California, attending school in the bucolic Ojai Valley and later in Ventura, where he would go on to teach junior high and high school for 31 years.

After retiring at age 55, he returned almost immediately as a volunteer – helping to develop a student mentoring program, tutoring struggling juniors and seniors (everyone who graduated or earned a GED), and playing a key role organizing and stocking the library at a newly created magnet school.

In 2008, Bill and his wife, Nina, moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, and reveled in living near water, surrounded by nature, and compassionate neighbors. Their home became an oasis, a welcoming gathering place for family and friends, especially in the final years when Bill could no longer travel. His life continued to revolve around his family – his sons, brothers, grandchildren, and a large extended family who all adored him.

Throughout his almost twenty-year journey with Parkinson’s, Bill remained active and curious. He traveled widely, read voraciously, and exercised regularly. Music, especially jazz, was a constant in his life and he loved searching for new artists to add to his burgeoning CD collection. He was passionate about film– remembering directors, actors, writers on hundreds of classic movies. He was a founding member of a beloved book club and participated in boxing, dance, and exercise classes. He became a role model within the Parkinson’s community — his final gift to them was donating his brain for research and participating in a genetic study.

After nearly 50 years of marriage, he and Nina were still holding hands and remarking how incredibly lucky they were to have found each other.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (Northwest Chapter), the Northwest Parkinson’s Association, Island Volunteer Caregivers and Island Fitness.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Ruth, his son Rob, his sister Lucy, and his granddaughter Dorothy. He is survived by his brothers Tom (Fern) and Mark (Linda); his sons Dave (Mika) and Chris (Julia); and his cherished grandchildren Will, Ben, Mia, and Edith. He is also survived by his treasured nieces and nephews — Caitlin, Rylan, Emily, Julie, Pam, Stephen, and Allison — all of whom spent meaningful time with him in recent years. Nina’s family became his own: her sisters Andrea (Bruce), Julie, and Erica (Ben), and her brother Mark (Lisa). After the family’s final goodbyes, Ben played the violin — knowing that the music Bill loved would guide him gently onward and offer solace to those he left behind.

To be loved is everything — and he was so very, very loved. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (Northwest Chapter), the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, Island Volunteer Caregivers, or Island Fitness.

A Celebration of Life will be livestreamed at 2:00 on August 10th. (Link to be added at a later date).

Arrangements are entrusted to the Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.