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William Emanuel Obituary
October 31, 1938 - April 23, 2025
William Joseph Emanuel, 86, of Napa Valley, CA, died in Napa on April 23, 2025.
Bill was born to Lawrence and Etta (Moser) Emanuel Oct. 31, 1938, in Hawthorne, CA. He moved to Fremont with his family when he was 10 and graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1956. He graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, in 1960 and then received a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, in 1963. He married Betsy Wolfe in Washington, DC, in 1964, and they then moved to Santa Monica, CA, where they raised their family.
Bill had a long legal career dealing with labor law, most recently as a partner in the international law firms of Jones Day and Littler Mendelsohn, before serving on the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, DC, from 2017 to 2021.
Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Emanuel; and daughter, Christina Emanuel.
He is survived by his wife, Betsy, of Napa; sons, Mike (Jenny) Emanuel of Napa, and Steve (Stephanie) DeBenedetti-Emanuel, of Sacramento, CA; a son-in-law, Chuck Garner of Pasadena CA; grandchildren, Peter and Carrie Smith of Los Angeles, Will Emanuel of Napa, and Kevin DeBenedetti-Emanuel of Sacramento; two brothers, Tim (Vicki) Emanuel and Mike (Michele) Emanuel, both of Fremont; two sisters, Janet (Dick) Boyer and Patti (Paul) Emanuel-Vaughan, both of Fremont.
Funeral services will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, with burial in Tulocay Cemetery, all in Napa, at a later date. A memorial has been established to the church, 2725 Elm St, Napa, CA, 94558.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Emanuel
Sponsored by Tulocay Cemetery Funeral Home & Crematory.
4 Entries
James Velghe Sr
May 19, 2025
I met Bill in 1980 when we were both working with Scripps Hospital in La Jolla CA. Bill was the lawyer, and I was the consultant, from here we maintained a geographically distant but active friendship. Bill was the best healthcare labor lawyer in the US, a consummate professional, of the highest integrity and
the absolutely most respected. His knowledge of wine, and labor law was a marvel. We shared our common Catholic upbringing and faith, and I loved his laugh. My deepest condolences to his family. Rest in Peace My Friend.
Kathy Realph Callahan
May 3, 2025
I´m sorry to read of Bill´s passing. It is so difficult to express the sorrow of losing a loved one one. May he rest in peace.
Nancy Hoshor
April 30, 2025
My Deepest Sympathy
Nancy Johnson
April 30, 2025
Hello Betsy, Just reading this announcement about Bills passing. So sorry for your loss. We were happy to meet you at the Meadows and enjoyed our dinner visits together. Hoping you find peace in your memories of Bill. Maybe we can get together at some time for a revisit. Our thoughts and prayers are out to you.
Nancy and Mark Johnson
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Tulocay Cemetery Funeral Home & Crematory411 Coombsville Rd, Napa, CA 94559
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