William Joseph Bish

We all adored Billy. From the moment I met him at UNC and the time I spent with him in Washington the summer of his graduation, we were firm friends. He extended all his hospitality to my parents and brother and my husband and I when we visited. New York won't be the same without him and he leaves a big hole in all our lives. Sorry he never got to meet my baby Gabriel and sorry we could not have given him more love. He is forever with us.

To the Bish family,I'm so sorry to hear about Billy's passing. I will always remember him fondly as a roommate and friend. I was lucky to know him pretty well, getting to visit your house on occasion and to know you all. I'm so sad. When I remember Billy, I remember beautiful classical saxophone music. I also remember endless cord progressions played with a mute. Practice rooms at UNC's music building. Biking around campus, and studying late into the night. He dated Deborah Bone, and she used to cook us dinners. I also remember him going down to my mom's place at the NC coast, and we had some good times. Billy was actually a good water skier! True story! I also remember his infectious laugh and smile as we joked about whatever was in the news or whatever dumb things fellow students were up to. What a good guy he was. I last saw him years back at the IHOP on Hillsborough St, and I'm bummed that we didn't keep in touch very well. Tried to connect him with my cousin the composer, Perry Townsend, who lives in Queens. I thought about him every time I was in the Reston Va. area and passed Wolftrap on route 7. I tried to look him up, but i think he kept a low profile on social media (Smart on his part). So sorry he's no longer with us, but I'll remember him with love.-Chris Dreps, Durham, NC