William H. Mauk Jr.

William H. Mauk, Jr
January 22, 2021
Miami, Florida - William H. Mauk, Jr., husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, great uncle, Peace Corps volunteer, dedicated sailor, activist, mentor, and friend, of Miami, Florida, died after a short illness on January 22, 2021. He was 77.
Bill was born in Toledo, Ohio. One of Bill's earliest memories was seeing his father for the first time when he returned from WWII. He graduated from Ottawa Hills High School, Miami University of Ohio and received his MBA from UCLA.
Bill went to Vietnam in 1968 with the U.S. Agency for International Development. While in Saigon, he and Jo Miller were married. After Vietnam, they moved to South Bend, Ind. where he became active in politics and was elected to the County Council. He also worked on Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign. In 1977 he moved to Virginia to work at the State Department (USAID) and later became Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration. He always said that was the best, most fun, job he ever had.
In 1985 Bill moved to Miami where he worked with John Alden Insurance as Senior Vice President. He managed Bill Clinton's two presidential campaigns in Dade County. He also began sailing competitively. He loved racing his Lightning and Etchells. In 2005 he put together a team to compete in the International Etchells World Championship. His team became the world champions that year. He continued sailing for the rest of his life. Bill was happiest competing with friends on the water and made many friends from all over the world where he sailed. Bill enjoyed sharing his sailing knowledge with others especially new and young sailors. He loved taking his grandchildren out on the water.
Bill believed that giving back to the community was important. He was the head of the YMCA in Miami and president of Shake-a-Leg Miami, an organization dedicated to children and adults with disabilities. He also volunteered with the agricultural non-profit organization ACDI/VOCA in Uganda. In 2010 he served in the Peace Corps in an AmerIndian village in Suriname. He enjoyed every day he spent there and made very special friends.
As busy and full a life that Bill led, there was never anything more important to him than his family and that extended to his friendships. He loved taking vacations with his family and shared his home with friends from around the world and in return was invited into their homes. He would do anything – often at the drop of a hat – to talk, help, advise, share - whatever was needed. He was dependable, trustworthy, fun, caring, kind, and his wisdom and infectious laugh will be deeply missed.
Bill was predeceased by his parents William H. (2007) and Betty B. (2012) Mauk of Toledo, Ohio, and is survived by his wife, Jo (Miller) Mauk; his son, Gregory (wife Heather, grandchildren Katelyn and Cameron); his daughter, Halley (husband Kevin Coyne, grandchildren Clair, Callie and Connor); siblings Catherine Mather (Buzz), Becky Powell (Rick), Blair Mauk (Karen), nieces, nephews and many friends.
Due to Covid restrictions, the family will celebrate Bill's life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Shake-a-Leg Miami.