Bill Matthies

The holiday season should be a happy time so I’m sure you’ll understand why I didn’t share the news of the passing of Jane’s father, Bill Matthies. 

We’re sad to see him go, but it was a blessing to have him as long as we did. We should all be so lucky to have 90 years of adventures on this earth.

There has been a lot of heartwarming stories on social media about the impact Bill has had on people’s lives. A teacher, a business owner, a dive instructor, a father, a father-in-law, a grandfather, a step grandfather, a great grandfather, a husband, a brother, a brother-in-law, there are so many people Bill touched with his kind ways.

You’ll often hear people talking in remembrance of a loved one that “there isn’t a person he/she didn’t like”. 

Well, that’s almost true for Bill. 

I know one person he didn’t like.

Jane and I accompanied Bill and Evelyn to a Dive Equipment Manufacturers Association convention in Orlando. Bill asked if I wanted to walk around the venue to see the vendor booths. Sure, why not?

Many people recognized Bill and he would chat with them. We were walking down one particular aisle and Bill stopped at a booth. The backdrop was a huge photo of Lloyd Bridges from his Sea Hunt days.

Bill asked the vendor if he knew Lloyd Bridges. His answer was no.

Bill proceeded to say, and I quote, “I don’t like him”.

I was stunned because that comment was so out of character.

Later in the day I asked Bill why he didn’t like Lloyd Bridges.

He said it was because he was at event with Lloyd Bridges where several children asked for his autograph. He refused. Bill felt that was impolite and wrong.

It now made sense to me why he didn’t like Lloyd Bridges.

I could list all the accomplishments and milestones in Bill’s life, but it’s well covered in his obituary. It can be found here.

Also, the Minneapolis StarTribune published an article about Bill’s passing. It can be found here.

We appreciate all of our family, and friends (which included many of our “Alaska” friends) who attended his service.

Definitely a life well lived. We’re going to miss him.