William I. Fine

William I. Fine, known to his friends as Bill, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, May 18th. Bill was born in St. Paul on May 26, 1928, and he was 73 at the time of his death. A business and civic leader, bill will be missed in many circles. His broad accomplishments spanned the areas of law, real estate, science, and education. A graduate of Central High School in St. Paul, he received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Minnesota. He went on to serve his country as a trial council in the Judge Advocate General's department in the Air Force, and later as an assistant district attorney in Dallas, TX. Bill Fine practiced law for 15 years in Minneapolis, and he was active in the Hennepin County Bar Association. However, most of his business life was dedicated to real estate development and investment. His many projects remain as a reminder of Bill's contribution to the skyline and urban fabric of several cities, including Minneapolis and St. Paul. His civic contributions were many. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota Science Museum for many years, served as a member of the Executive Committee of the University of Minnesota's Alumni Association and participated as a charter member of the Board of Advisors at the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota. Bill Fine had a life-long interest in theoretical physics. He played a critical role in devising and establishing the William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute at the University of Minnesota, one of only a handful of such institutions in the country. Bill continued to be actively involved in the growth of the Theoretical Physics Institute, as the co-chairman of the Institute's Oversite Committee. Bill was preceded in death by his mother and father, Ida Cohen Fine and A.S. Fine; stepmother, Sally Fine; sister, Ruth Resnick and brother, Gerald Fine. He is survived by his faithful companion and wife Dr. Bianca Conti-Fine; sister, Toby Silvermann; brother Maelach Fine; mother-in-law, Liliana Patellani di Monterosso; brother-in-law, Dr. Galeazzo M.E. Conti; sister-in-law, Laura Conti; and loving nieces and nephews. Funeral Service MONDAY (TODAY) 1:00 TEMPLE ISRAEL, 2324 Emerson Ave. S. SHIVA 2424 Lake Place, Mpls (Monday and Tuesday). Arr. Hodroff & Sons 612-871-1234