William Kreitzberg Spinrad

1990 - 2021

William Kreitzberg Spinrad A fifth grade youth soccer coach remembered that William used to thank him after every practice. Teammates and opponents were more likely to remember how this diminutive striker, 12" shorter than some of them, could thread his way through a defensive line and score. Later in life, the sight of William running or walking neighborhood dogs, allowing them freedom to sniff around and follow up scents of squirrels, brought smiles both to those who knew him personally and others who just recognized his regular and charming presence on the bike paths and trails of Central Marin. His own huge and radiant smile lit up his face, and is one of the things most fondly and consistently remembered by those who knew him. Born in Greenbrae, California, William lived almost his entire life within two miles of his birthplace. The second of five siblings, he developed strong and unique relationships with every family member, and distinguished himself early by his passions, fun-loving personality, and talents. An excellent student, he graduated from Redwood High School having earned lifetime membership in its Honor Society, before attending U.C. Santa Cruz for two years. Exercising and training dogs had become central in William's life in his final years, and this interest prompted matriculation at Bergin University of Canine Studies, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cynology (the study of canines) just weeks before he died. An outstanding and fiercely competitive athlete, William excelled at almost any sport he tried. He ran Marin's famed Dipsea Race 15 times, beginning at age nine. A fine baseball, basketball, and soccer player in his youth, his focus shifted in high school, where he contributed at a Varsity level in Track, Cross Country, and Wrestling. In his senior year he was a wrestling team captain, named 'Most Valuable Wrestler' on the squad, and was the Marin County champion in the 132 pound weight class. William was additionally an enthusiastic and skilled competitive chess player. While William's numerous abilities and accomplishments inspired a degree of admiration and awe; it was his good character, gentle and sweet nature, and sense of humor that formed the basis for many longtime friendships, and the loyalty that developed. His wrestling coach remembered him in these words, during an October Zoom Celebration of Life: "It's really easy to measure his accolades and what he did on the mat... but really what impressed me was his presence and energy off the mat... He was a genuine friend, he was humble, and he was a wonderful teammate." An uncle, speaking at a Remembrance Gathering in mid-September said, "You judge people by how they treat others, including animals, and Will treated animals wonderfully; but something that should be mentioned is that dogs are very fine and discerning judges of character as well." And dogs universally loved William. William lived the last ten and a half years of his life with schizoaffective disorder, and while bravely struggling with the effects of a brutal mental illness, lived a life that deeply touched, inspired, and helped many. He was willing to share his story and ran the Marin Half Marathon in 2015, in endeavors to reduce stigma and raise awareness and money for Mental Health Research that ultimately generated donations of over $30,000. William took his life on September 13, 2020 at the age of 30. He is survived and deeply mourned by his parents, Caroline Kreitzberg and Mike Spinrad; brothers Sam (Hannah) and Joe; sisters Rebecca (Jared) Davies and Elaine; grandparents Fred and Barbara Kreitzberg and Bette Spinrad; niece and nephew Nava and Jack Spinrad; and an abundance of both human and canine friends, and many more relatives. Donations in William's memory may be made to: One Mind (formerly International Mental Health Research Organization IMHRO), https://onemind.org/donate/; and Bergin University of Canine Studies, https://www.berginu.edu/donate.html.