William (Bill) G. Bond Jr., 75, of Cedar Glen Homes, Manchester Twp., formerly of Leisure Knoll, passed away on Friday, April 12th, 2024, at home, surrounded by his loving wife of 54 years, Lynne, and his trusty cat, Allie, who was probably eyeing up his favorite recliner. Born in Newark in 1948, Bill spent most of his formative years in Cliffwood Beach, where he honed his storytelling skills, reminiscent of Al Bundy from “Married With Children,” especially when recounting the glory days of the legendary sports coach, Mr. Barry Rizzo, and the epic exploits of the 1966 Matawan Huskies. If you hadn’t heard about it from Bill, you were missing out on tales of the first undefeated, untied team in school history. Bill and his fellow teammates even earned a spot in the Matawan Huskie Athletic Hall of Fame last year, immortalized in the hallowed halls of their alma mater’s stadium.
It was in the late ’60s that Bill also met the love of his life, the then Lynne Kansky. One of their earlier encounters, as Bill would tell it, was more akin to a rom-com than real life. While out on his own date at the Red Oak Diner, he spotted Lynne, also on a date, and decided to what we’d now call “stalk” her. Well, persistence paid off, and not long after, Lynne became his wife, then the mother of their first child, Derek, while they were living it up in Florida. Bill was stationed in Miami then West Palm Beach while serving in the Coast Guard from 1968-1972 (he later was brought to the Coast Guard Academy where he concluded his active career as a weapons instructor, and then was an inactive member through 1974). But the bugs, the heat, and the lack of decent pizza eventually drove them back to New Jersey, where Lynne’s father, Bill Kansky, helped Bill Bond kick-start his career at the then New Jersey Bell as an installation and repairman. He stuck with it for nearly 33 years until 2005, proving that even the most mundane jobs can have their moments of glory.
In 1976, while residing in Freehold, the family welcomed their second (and according to Kyle, favorite) son, Kyle into the world. They soon made the move to the better side of Middletown, proudly declaring their allegiance to the South Eagles! Their home there became a hub of family, friends, fishing, and endless fun. Bill was the kind of guy who always had a fishing rod stashed in his work truck, ready to drop everything and chase after the next big catch, even if it meant being fashionably late to his son’s Boy Scout events. But hey, priorities, right? And let’s face it, if cell phones had been a thing back then, he’d probably have sent a text saying, “Just one more cast, be there soon!”
Despite his penchant for angling adventures, Bill was also the epitome of a loyal friend, always ready with a joke or a helping hand. It’s no wonder most folks would struggle to come up with a negative story about him. He wasn’t a saint, but he was the kind of friend everyone dreams of having—up for any adventure, eager to lend a hand, and endlessly encouraging. But above all, Bill’s greatest legacy is his family. His son, who’s penning this obituary, can only hope to be spoken of with the same fondness someday. He never once doubted his dad’s love, never questioned where he stood in his dad’s priorities, and never missed out on a moment of his unwavering support. Bill, along with Lynne, remained a steadfast presence in their son’s life, from pop warner football games to major life milestones. Bill’s greatest joys of the past 18 years would undoubtedly be his three granddaughters. You probably didn’t get far into a conversation before he would give an update on their lives, accomplishments, and accolades. He saw in them the aspirations he drove towards in his life which also paralleled the same priorities that he instilled in his children. Those were to love with all of your heart, be an example to others and do your best in all things. His legacy will live on through his wife, son, and granddaughters.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, William G. Bond Sr.; his mother, Carolyn Souza; his brother, Phillip Bond; and his son, Derek J. Bond. He is survived by his wife, Lynne; his son, Kyle Bond of Havre de Grace, Maryland; and three adoring granddaughters, Abigail, Claire, and Amelia.
A memorial service highlighting Bill’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024, from 12-2 p.m. at DeGraff Lakehurst Funeral Home, 119 Union Ave., Lakehurst, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to the Jersey Shore chapter of the Surfrider Foundation (https://jerseyshore.surfrider.org/) because even in death, Bill’s spirit lives on in the stories and memories he shared with us all.