William John Readdy II

William John Readdy II, fondly known as Bill to his friends and family, passed away on Pentecost Sunday, May 19, 2024, after a stroke and subsequent struggles to recover. To the end he worked hard to build back his tennis swing and bridge playing mental prowess, with the vigor and will that is characteristic of his personality, while his body and God had other plans. All who knew him, knew a family man who was deeply committed to his family around the country and to his community in Niceville Florida with the many ways he was involved in a life of service and political and social involvement.
Born on December 15, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to Dorothy and Dr. William J Readdy I, Bill grew up with four beloved sisters. He graduated with honors from St. Ignatius Jesuit High School and earned a BS in Engineering from Northwestern University. Later, he obtained an MBA from Syracuse University. This led him to an executive career with large chemical companies such as Allied Signal, living in many places including New York, West Virginia, Virginia, Northern California, and making an early retirement in Niceville, Florida, where he just as actively enjoyed maintaining the tennis courts with engineering effectiveness and excellence.
All who really knew him, knew him as someone who enjoyed da heated discussion of politics, engaging in scientific speculation, and leading social clubs. He dedicated many years to tennis clubs in New York and Bluewater Bay, actively participated in the Rotary Club, serving on the scholarship committee to support the youth of Niceville, being involved in and even endorsed by the Republican Club to run for county commissioner, and served as treasurer of his HOA for many years. He was a devout Catholic, experiencing a deepening of faith in later years after many participating in his church in the hospitality/ushers ministry at Holy Name of Jesus and serving as a Eucharistic minister, visiting the homebound, which he would go on to say was one of the most rewarding ministries he ever had.
Bill's role as his role as a family man was one of the most important distinctions he ever had, his pride and joy. With his first wife of 25 years, Barbara Readdy, he lived in Syracuse New York, together raising their four children: Terri, Bill, Katie, and Amie. He was a loving and involved father, always ready to offer guidance on living a happy and successful life. Although he experienced the untimely loss of his son, William John Readdy III, at a young age, he took his sons wife's family in as an extension of his own, and celebrated the gift of his grandson, William John Readdy IV, who recently welcomed William John Readdy V into the world. His sisters also passing before him, left him an extensive network of nieces and nephews and grands he continued to treat as his own throughout his life. Later in life he met and married Bette Young, a widow for whom he embraced her children, Susan, Betsy, and Robert, and her grandchildren as his own as well. Divorced at time of his death, he remained a friend and support to his wide network of family as a testament to the kind of person he was, agreeable, generous, and involved to help all he knew have the best lives they could. Bill cherished his grandsons Troy and Marc, as well as step-granddaughters Sarah, Mica, and Cali.
His daughters Katie Readdy Baker and Amie Readdy Leigh, treasure the life, legacy and memory of their beloved father, who will be dearly missed by them and all the people he looked out for in the servant heart roles of husband, father, grandfather, uncle, great grandfather, colleague, committee member, friend. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered, as we celebrate his new life together in Eternity.
The funeral and memorial service for William John Readdy II will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Holy Name of Jesus in Niceville. The body will be in repose at 9:30 am, followed by a Catholic funeral at 10 am. A celebration of life will take place in the ministry center, as a living Irish wake, where all are invited to celebrate his life and legacy. Bill requests that any donations in his name be made to Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Niceville, Florida.
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