William "Bill" BRADT

BRADT,William "Bill" Died in a car crash on Hwy 116 on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. Age: 53. Bill was a native of West Islip, New York where he grew up sailing and surfing on the Great South Bay. He and his family where members of the N.Y. Yacht Club and participated in sailing regattas and races up and down the East Coast. He attended Cornell University and after graduating he moved west and settled in Marin County in 1978. A lifelong music fan soon after arriving in California he got his dream job - touring the country as member of the Ultrasound crew with The Grateful Dead. Bill worked for Ultrasound and the Dead for much of the 1980s and had many memorable experiences and developed lifelong friendships while "on tour". In 1990 he traveled in Europe for a year and when he returned to the U.S. he moved to Sebastopol CA where he met his wife and soul mate Kathy Weir. Together they renovated the old Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway Building and turned it into The Powerhouse Brewing Company, an award winning microbrewery, restaurant, and live music club that was a fixture in downtown Sebastopol for 10 years. Bill was proud to bring many nationally known music acts to Sebastopol, presenting over 1000 shows at the Powerhouse. Bill and Kathy were frequent visitors to New Orleans and loved to showcase the music, food and culture of that city at the Powerhouse. Bill collected and sold rock & roll memorabilia and was a consultant and contributor to the book "The Art of Rock". He also loved classic sport cars but most of all he loved time with family and friends. Bill was active in the Sebastopol community serving on the Planning Commission for three years and donating his time to many community events and causes. Bill and Kathy sold the Powerhouse in 2004 and they continued to promote music shows and events through their new company Powerhouse Promotions. Bill also worked for a time as the event manager at Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club. Bill was an free spirit with a generous heart, quick wit and sense of humor who made friends wherever he went. Bill is survived by Kathy Weir, wife (Sebastopol); Nancee (Kim) Mendenhall, sister (Pacific Palisades); Dave and Earline Weir, parents in law (Manhattan Beach); Holly Mendenhall, niece (Pacific Palisades); Sierra Weir, niece (Berkeley); Brett Weir, nephew (San Pedro); Lisa Jones, best friend (Corte Madera); John Werner, best friend (Sebastopol); a large extended family and many close friends. His father William Bradt Sr. and mother Eileen Bradt of West Islip NY preceded him in death. Per Bill's wishes no formal services will be held, instead a Celebration of his Life with the things he loved - music, family, and friends, is being planned and a date will be announced soon. Bill was a dog lover and in lieu of flowers family requests donations to the Humane Society or dog rescue organization of your choice.