William Michael "Bill" Chanfrau Sr.

Our hero, William ("Bill") Michael Chanfrau, Sr., 78, passed away on August 23, 2025, in Akuryeri, Iceland, while traveling with the love of his life, Muffi Chanfrau, on one of their great travel adventures.
Bill was "Duke" to his family, a Prince to his clients, and a King to his friends and his community. Bill loved life, God, his family, his friends, adventure, laughing, and lived with no regrets. Before his passing, his friends should know that in true Bill fashion, he told a few jokes, expressed love for family and friends, asked for a beer, a lighter for a cigar, and ate several cookies and two pastries – but not in that order.
At the end of World War II, Bill was born on September 11, 1946, in New York City to Marjorie Lynch Chanfrau (a former Miss Daytona Beach) and Philip Joseph Chanfrau, Sr. (WWII Marine Fighter Pilot). He was the rambunctious and prankful younger brother to Philip Chanfrau, Jr., both of whom would later create the cornerstone Chanfrau and Chanfrau law firm.
As a fourth-generation native son of Daytona Beach, Bill attended Seabreeze High School, where he played football, baseball and excelled academically. The United States Navy awarded Bill an appointment to the Naval Academy, but a baseball injury to his shoulder prohibited Bill from attending. Bill later became thankful for that mishap - because he ultimately attended Florida State University, where he met his future wife, Mary Florence Hagan ("Muffi"), during his freshman year.
Bill bled garnet and gold and was a true Seminole his entire life. At Florida State University, Bill served as President of the Sophomore class, President of his Fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, was a member of Gold Key, and is in the FSU Hall of Fame. Bill served as President of the local Volusia County Seminole Booster Club for years, and he and Muffi entertained Bobby Bowden (and his wife) many times. One of his greatest joys was teasing his gator friends after Seminole victories.
Upon graduating from Florida State University, Bill and Muffi married in Lake City, Florida, on June 16, 1968. The Vietnam War was in full swing, and Bill answered the call of duty - entering the Navy's Officer Candidate School. After graduating, Bill served in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a Commissioned Naval Officer for several years. Bill and Muffi loved living in Hawaii, and the two returned to Hawaii on numerous family adventures throughout their lives. In 2018, Bill and Muffi celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on the beaches of Waikiki with the entire family and more Mai Tais than can be remembered.
After receiving an honorable discharge, Bill continued serving in the Navy Reserves while attending Stetson University College of Law, in St. Petersburg, Florida. He graduated summa cum laude with high honors in 1973, was ranked third in his graduating class, and served on the Stetson law review. Recognizing that Bill was both intellectually gifted and a scholar, Tom Cobb recruited Bill to begin his career at the law firm of Cobb, Cole, Bell and Bond. Bill's true calling, however, was to be a trial lawyer and represent the injured and common people. Bill then worked for the Provonzola Law Firm, gaining immeasurable trial experience.
In 1976, Bill opened his own law firm. Then, in 1977, he asked his older brother, Philip, to join forces to form Chanfrau and Chanfrau, Counselors and Attorneys at Law. The two brothers became a formidable force and practiced law together for decades. They tried many cases before juries, resulting in substantial verdicts for their clients.
A legal Titan, Bill was known throughout the legal industry and community for his legal prowess, quick wit, principles, ethics, fairness to all, and integrity. In 1981, the Florida Supreme Court awarded Bill the prestigious Pro Bono Award honoring Bill's leadership for creating the Volusia County Service Project which provided free legal services for the poor. The Florida Justice Association awarded Bill the "Silver Eagle Award" twice for his outstanding leadership. Bill served as President of the Volusia County Bar Association, served on the state-wide Board of Governors, and received an AV rating by his peers for having the highest ethical standards. Bill was Board Certified as an Expert Civil Trial Attorney, was the founding President of the Volusia County Civil Trial Lawyers Association and started the local Inns of Court. Bill's colleagues voted him one of the country's Top Trial Attorneys. He was a former President of the Rotary of Ormond Beach and was a previous member of the Rotary of Daytona Beach. Following in their father's footsteps, Bill's son, William Jr., joined the firm in 2001, and his daughter, Kelly, joined the firm in 2010. They practiced law together until Bill retired in 2024.
Yet, as proud as he was of his distinguished legal career, Bill's greatest joy was to pour his heart into his family and friends. Bill loved coaching his children's sports teams, taking his family on great adventures including mountain hikes up Whiteside Mountain, hikes in and out of Hawaiian volcanoes, ski trips (always wearing his hard to miss neon yellow or green parka), sailboat rides in the Caribbean, horseback rides in Montana, and houseboat trips. Bill enjoyed vacationing in the Florida Keys with several other families where he would wildly drag his laughing kids and their friends on a tube behind a boat or a have them hanging on for dear life off of a sideways catamaran.
Everyone agrees that Bill (and Muffi) were always the life of the party, throwing epic celebrations for family and friends at Christmas and beyond. No one will ever forget the two spontaneously dancing, including the "bat dance" at Halloween Parties.
Bill was an avid golfer, hitting a hole-in-one several times. He was a member of both Oceanside Country Club in Ormond Beach, Florida, since 1974, as well as Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Highlands, North Carolina, since 2004. His friends knew they had better not take themselves too seriously on the 13th hole at Oceanside, because if they did, he would blow his bullhorn in their backswing from his porch.
Bill had a great faith in God and served on the vestry for years at St. James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach, Florida. He also led a Bible Study for businessmen for years. Those who know Bill can be sure that even in Heaven he is keeping God entertained with everyone around him smiling and laughing at his jokes and impersonation of Inspector Clouseau.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Muffi Chanfrau; his son, William Michael Chanfrau, Jr. (Liz); his daughters, Kelly Chanfrau Bailey (Richard), and Priscilla Chanfrau; grandchildren, Madeline, Caroline, Will, Blake (Morgan), Brooke, and Christopher; and his great-grandson, Brooks. Friends are invited to join the Family for Bill's Celebration of Life at St. James Episcopal Church, 38 S. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach, at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 6, 2025. Memorial donations may be made to St. James Episcopal Church Outreach Ministries, which includes Halifax Urban Ministries, Hope Place, and Family Renew at www.stjamesobfl.org, or to St. James Episcopal Church, 38 S. Halifax Dr., Ormond Beach, FL., 32176. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond.