William "Bill" Gummere III

William Gummere III died on October 1, 2023 from complications of Lewy Body Dementia.
"Will" was born in Trenton, NJ on August 21, 1941 to William Gummere Jr. and the artist Peggy Peplow Gummere. The second oldest of six children, "Will" is preceded in death by his parents; his sister Mary "Fuzzy" Hall and her husband Dr. William Hall. He is survived by four siblings: Agnes Gummere LaStoria (husband Dr. Roger LaStoria, deceased 1995); Richard Gummere, Deacon Peter Gummere and his wife Maryanne; John Gummere and his wife Sue. He was also a devoted cousin to Margaret Sullivan and the late Elizabeth Buckley and their families. "Uncle Will" was an entertaining and enthusiastic role model to sixteen nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind longtime friend and brother-in-law Joseph Priory and wife Nancy; and sister-in-law Linda Priory.
At Trenton Country Club, teenage "Bill" met Jane Priory, who would become the love of his life. They married in 1964 and have four children and six grandchildren: Elizabeth "Beth" Gummere, and husband Ole Dam Kofoed of Saco, ME and Brondby, Denmark; William Gummere IV, wife Janice Slingland Gummere, and sons Brian and Kevin of Oakland, NJ; Joseph Priory Gummere, wife Barbara Huber Gummere, and son Joseph Jr. of Highland Lakes, NJ; and Margaret "Meg" Gummere, husband Thomas P. Cahill, and children Emma, Patrick, and Jason, of Vernon, NJ.
Rowing was a big part of Bill's life. He rowed for St. Joseph's Prep and St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. He stayed in touch with his classmates from high school and in 2005 they formed a reunion boat for the Henley Masters Regatta in England with "Captain Bill" in 7 seat. He also liked to recall the time he sculled across Monterey Bay with his daughter Beth in 2000, a 5-hour ordeal.
He began a 30-year career at IBM in Washington, DC, in November 1963, his first day delayed a few days for JFK's funeral. After many years of job transfers, travels, and long commutes; he retired from his job at IBM in 1993.
In 1998 Jane and Bill embarked on a big adventure when he accepted a job at Seagate Technology in Scotts Valley, California, and they moved to Aptos, CA. After retiring from Seagate in 2002, he and Jane spent their retirement years playing tennis and enjoying the beach and the weather with many dear friends in California. They also traveled extensively and spent the summers and extended winter holidays with their six grandchildren in New Jersey, driving their Prius back and forth across the country when it was time to relocate for the season.
Ever curious, he loved to support the interests of his wife and children and grandchildren and became knowledgeable about a wide range of hobbies and activities. He especially loved guitar singalongs with Will and Joe on guitar and Meg on backup vocals, even as he started to forget the words but hummed along anyway. "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead was a family favorite.
Arrangements are being handled by F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, 1 Main Street, Franklin, New Jersey 07419 973-827-7050.
Visitation will be at F. John Ramsey Funeral Home in Franklin on Thursday, October 12 between 4pm-6pm.
Funeral mass will be held at St. Francis de Sales in Vernon on Friday, October 13 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be directed to the Lewy Body Dementia Association lbda.org/donate.