CURRENT CELEBRATIONS

William “Bill” Curzie Jr

Bill was a man far ahead of his time; an environmentalist and herbalist before they were even a thing. He made Delran the first “green” town in NJ and coined the phrase “Hop to it, Save the Pinelands now.” He worked to clean up the Sierra Trails to save the wolves in New York. He spent 8 years in the Franciscan seminary and his love of St. Francis was always part of his life. He was published numerous times on a variety of topics. He served in the Army National Guard and volunteered for many years for the Iditarod in Alaska. He wasn’t into materialistic things; some of his sweaters were 50 years old. Although, he did splurge on the occasional used Mercedes. He saw much of the world: Israel, Costa Rica, Italy and Mexico. A lifelong baseball fan, his favorite team was the 1946 World Series Champion Cardinals and don’t accuse him of playing softball; he started and commissioned the South Jersey Men’s Senior Baseball league in 1992. At first snowfall, he’d make tracks on his cross country skis right out the back door. He taught his kids to ski and skied as far away as Lake Tahoe, Alaska and Italy. He was strong in his faith: a eucharistic minister and an attendee at daily mass. He was an iconic figure at the local gym with his mini trampoline and won a body building contest in his late 70’s. If his T.V. was on he’d be checking out some baseball or any interesting sport and sometimes watching a little Wheel of Fortune.

He met the love of his life, Joanne, when they were just kids and began dating while she was attending nursing school in 1958. They shared a 56-year marriage marked by love and understanding. Bill is survived by his wife, Joanne; children: David (Amber), Todd (Renee), Timothy, and Joanne-Nicole (Shag); grandchildren: Mikayla, Cooper, Jordan, Vincent, Jonah, Joseph, Angel-Marie, and Julian, and one great grandchild on the way, Adaya; his sister, Kayta (Larry), niece, Zofia and nephew, Johnathan, great nieces Larissa and Aliana.

Come celebrate 87 great years Tuesday 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. at Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10:30 amat St Joseph’s Church, Beverly. Interment St. Peters Cemetery, Riverside. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of your choice.