William "Bill" Egan II

1955 - 2025

William "Bill" Egan II
12/01/1955 - 12/10/2025
William James Egan II ("Bill") passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, in Walnut Creek, California, at the age of 70.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Elaine Benson-Egan; his mother, Jeanette Egan; his sister, Corinne Cole (Doug); and his brother, John Egan (René). He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Kathy Matheson (Jack) and Evelyn Gilardi (Rich), and his brothers-in-law, John Benson (Terry), Chuck Benson, and Bill Benson (Kazumi). Bill also leaves behind his cherished nieces and nephews: Ryan Cole (Polly), Casey Cole (Kate), Kelli Cole Barrett (Neill), and Jared Egan; as well as his adored great-nieces and great-nephews: Clementine Cole, Quillan Cole, Nora Cole, Rory Barrett, and Louie Barrett.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Egan ("Jack"), and his sister, Lori Jean Egan.
Bill was born on December 1, 1955, in San Francisco to Jack and Jeanette Egan. He attended Saint Gabriel's Grammar School, where he was named the school's Outstanding Athlete in 1969. He went on to attend Saint Ignatius High School, graduating with the Class of 1973. In the fall of that year, Bill began his college years at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, where he earned his bachelor's degree and graduated with the Class of 1977.
Throughout his life, Bill's love of sports was a constant. As a boy, baseball was his passion. He spent countless hours playing catch in front of his family home on 39th Avenue and listening to the San Francisco Giants on his transistor radio. His love for the Giants never faded. During his college years, Bill discovered tennis and became an integral member of the Saint Mary's tennis team for four years.
One of Bill's greatest gifts was his ability to form lifelong friendships. He had an unmatched enthusiasm for the lives of those he loved, always offering encouragement and support. If you were a friend of Bill Egan's, you knew you had your biggest fan. He celebrated the successes of others-whether your own, your children's, or your loved ones'-with genuine excitement and joy. His unwavering loyalty and enthusiasm were truly his superpower.
After college, Bill returned to San Francisco and began a career as a stockbroker. He quickly found his calling. For Bill, following the stock market was as thrilling as following sports. He had an extraordinary mind for numbers and could effortlessly recall stock prices and trends with the same ease as he could recite batting averages from past and present MLB players. His knowledge and memory were remarkable.
Bill eventually returned to the East Bay, where he worked as a broker with Alamo Capital in Walnut Creek. It was there that he met the love of his life, Elaine Benson. They shared so much in common: both were San Francisco natives raised just a few parishes apart, and both were twins-Bill with his sister Corinne, and Elaine with her identical twin sister Evelyn. After a year and a half together, Bill and Elaine were married in September 2006 and built a wonderful life in the East Bay.
Their years together were filled with shared adventures-attending sporting events, visiting Evelyn and her family in Redding, traveling, enjoying dinners with friends, and spending time with Bill's parents at Giants Spring Training.
Throughout much of his adult life, Bill endured countless back surgeries and lived with persistent pain. Yet he never allowed it to define him. He met everyone with warmth, a smile, and a sincere eagerness to hear what was happening in their lives. Looking back, it is impossible not to recognize how deeply Bill cared for others and how much joy he took in staying connected.
Bill will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his passion for sports, and above all, for being an extraordinary friend. Many will miss hearing his voice on the other end of the phone, always filled with energy and excitement. His signature greetings and his unmistakable enthusiasm will remain in our hearts forever.
A Mass will be held at Saint Mary's College in Moraga on March 1 at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reception at the Soda Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bill's memory to his favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.