William Ross Sutphen, III

William Ross Sutphen III, 81, of Somerville, New Jersey, passed away at his home on Sunday, June 19th, aptly Father's Day, with his son and daughter by his side.

William (Bill) was born on November 15, 1940 to William and Eleanor Sutphen (Brokaw) and brother to Marcia Sutphen (Koester). Bill lived his entire life in Somerville and spent many joyful summers on Long Beach Island. He graduated from Somerville High School in 1958, continued on to graduate from Duke University in 1962, and then earned a law degree from Seton Hall.

For many decades, Bill served the community he loved as a respected attorney and partner in the firm Woolson, Guterl, Sutphen, Anderson and Neergard. Over the years, Bill served as borough attorney for Somerville and on the planning boards for Hillsborough, Bethlehem Township, and Somerville.

Despite his professional accomplishments, as young children, his son and daughter believed his primary vocation to be that of a firefighter, which may very well be the role he treasured the most. Bill joined the Central Hook and Ladder in 1963 and went on to serve as Captain, President, Attorney, Chairman, and the Insurance and By Laws Commissioner for the organization. In 2016 he received the award for 50 years of service. In all those years of service with the fire department, he was perhaps proudest of driving the tiller on the Hook and Ladder truck, guiding it into the incredibly narrow firehouse on Division Street.

Among family and friends, old and new, Bill was known for his warmth and kindness, laid-back attitude, sense of humor, ethical nature, and love of celebrating. He had a deep love of music and literature, amassing diverse collections that were routinely pilfered by his children, stepchildren, and even grandchildren. He shared a passion for travel with his beloved wife, Mary Lou, and together they explored all over the United States and Europe. Bill was an avid fisherman, enjoying everything from surf fishing to Sutphen tuna trips with his cousins. Bill had the lucky fortune to have fished not only the east coast waters off of New Jersey, North Carolina and Florida, but also in Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Alaska, Hawaii, and Ireland. His greatest conquest, a 700 lb., 13-foot blue marlin, currently hangs in the Long Beach Island Historical Museum in Beach Haven, NJ.

Bill is survived by his loving children and stepchildren and their spouses: Trisha Hall (Chris), William (Billy) Sutphen (Michele), Susan Latino, Janet Gagliardi, Ellen Flanagan (Chris); his adoring grandchildren Hannah Langlie, Devaney Latino, Logan Roach, Claire Latino, Kate Latino, Emma Hall, Will Sutphen, Eliza Hall and Luke Flanagan. His family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Wentworth Homecare and Hospice and, especially, the community of staff, nurses and caregivers at Brookdale Spruce Woods in Durham, NH. They surrounded Bill and his children with amazing care and support in the last part of his life. A fireman's service and celebration of life will take place later this summer in Somerville, N.J.