Bill Yaffe

Bill Yaffe had an enormous capacity to love. He adored his family and made sure they knew it.

He could be transgressive: to make the moment funnier, to intensify the experience, to challenge presumptions, to declare his own independence and humanity.

He dared to be present, exactly as himself.

He was an observer, who followed up quietly: a word of encouragement, a message of solidarity. He was also a loud belly laugher, a silly dancer, a wit.

He was wonderfully musical, and had an ear for the perfect sports call and the syncopated beat. He read all the time. In French and English. He loved animals. He loved Paris. He loved everyone he had ever loved, to the last day of his life.

He wanted a better world. He fought for it. He sacrificed for it. He encouraged others to believe it was possible.

Bill (William Louis) Yaffe is survived by his wife Laura McBride, his children Leah Yaffe (Leo Villalobos), and Noah Yaffe (Brooke), his nephew Stealth Yaffe, and his brother Dan Yaffe (Iris Zhang). He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Elizabeth Yaffe.

He grew up in Fort Wayne IN, graduated from Indiana U, and lived in Paris for many years. There, he worked for the La Ligue Communiste and the American Center of the Arts. He owned Philadelphia Home Lending and worked at Philadelphia Freedom.

He gave his time reading with children at Estes McDoniel ES, coaching for Green Valley Little League, serving as an advisor to Thurman White MS, volunteering at Green Valley HS, and showing up at demonstrations for social justice.

A celebration of life will be held at noon on Sunday, August 3 at Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson.