Bill was born in Sacramento, CA on Sept 5, 1926. He moved to San Francisco in the 5th grade where he attended Mission Dolores School thru 8th grade. He attended St. Joseph's Seminary in Mt. View, CA during his high school years, until he met the love of his life, Barbara Jeanne Carroll at which time he abandoned his quest for the Priesthood, and joined the U.S. Navy. After spending 2 years in the Navy, he attended his beloved Stanford University where he played football, ran track, and earned his teaching degree in 1949. While Bill was at Stanford, Barbara Jeanne "Bobs" was attending St. Joseph's College of Nursing in San Francisco and Bill would take the train up to visit her every weekend where they would walk through The City holding hands. He married Bobs on July 1, 1950, and after spending 3 years in Ione, CA the couple settled in Millbrae, CA where they raised six beautiful children, Suzie, Christy, K.C., Dan, Liz and Michael. Bill and Bobs had a magical love affair lasting over 70 years, which was admired by all who knew them.

He taught numerous subjects, and coached many sports at Capuchino High in San Bruno, CA. Although he loved all sports, his favorite was football, which he coached for 36 years. He won many league titles along with an undefeated/un-scored upon season in the fall of 1966. He was considered one of the top prep coaches in the state, and sent many athletes on to Div I schools. He had a real passion for teaching the game and his teams showed it. Bill was also passionate about teaching Latin and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 1962. He spent that summer in Italy studying the language and Italian history. Bill and Bobs truly cherished the early friendships they made with the young Capuchino faculty and their wives. They raised their children together, rotated houses for Friday night after-game parties, vacationed together and became life-long loving friends.

Bill and Bobs loved having a large Irish Catholic brood. There was never a dull moment at the Greenleaf household with all their kids and their friends in and out of the house on Bayview Ave. They spent summers at their cabin in Arnold, CA. They loved to travel, including month long camping trips and an epic 7-month sabbatical to Europe in 1971 with the whole family in a VW camper. Bill loved European history and was comfortable playing tour guide for his family, and numerous college touring students.

"Papa" treasured being an active and enthusiastic grandfather. He was generous with both his love and time. He was so proud of the wonderful young people his children had brought into the world. Family and friends will remember Bill as gregarious, fun loving, often the life of the party, having a great sense of humor, and a little mischievous twinkle in his eye.

He is survived by his loving wife Barbara Jeanne, his six children and their spouses, his 13 grandchildren, Justin and Alexon Massei, Kelsey, Melissa and Shane Greenleaf, Kathleen, Danny, Patty and Marty Koenigs, Callie and Jenna Greenleaf, Josh Bailey and Carissa Bailey Matheson, and great-grandsons Logan Greenleaf Mallette, Jace and Pierce Bailey and Nixen and Phenix Bailey-Matheson. He also leaves behind many loving relatives in the Finigan, O'Brien, Landuyt, Holcombe and Ribera families.

Bill's family greatly appreciates the loving care given to him by the staff at the Willow Creek Alzheimer's Care Center, and the caring Vitas hospice staff. A Celebration of Life is being planned for all to attend this summer - details will follow.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to: Willow Creek, 22424 Charlene Way, Castro Valley, CA 94546 memo: Employee Fund/Greener.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Mar. 26 to Mar. 27, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for William Greenleaf

23 Entries

May 12, 2016

With appreciation for the CAP years of Bill Greenleaf as football coach, Latin teacher, and mentor to so many of us.

"Always the best" is his legacy.

We look forward to meeting his family.

Sincerely,

Dave Peterson
CAP 1953-1957

Alexandria, Virginia
[email protected]

darlene/Marty Roberts

April 9, 2016

Dear Bob,
I am sure you remember us for all the years we spent together in Millbrae.
We have so many fond memories.
You and all your family are in our prayers.

April 6, 2016

Mr.Greenleaf taught me Latin and taught me to drive a car, and he did it with a sense of humor and gentle nudging..he was my hero!!

With love and sadness,

Dolores movie/Busuttil class of 63

Stanley Grosse

April 3, 2016

My dearest Barbara, I wanted you to know that my heart is with you. You were married for so many years. I can never get your smiling face out of my mind. You were always a breath of fresh air when we would see each other, at parties, picnics or? I do not have your phone number. Maybe you were one of the family can get it to me. Stanley [email protected].... I send love... God bless, Stanxxxooo

Jami Belnap

March 31, 2016

Mr. Greenleaf.........the heart and soul of Capuchino. You made high school a great place to be. Always a smile and an open door. Our 1981 trip to Europe will always be a cherished memory. Love to Barbara and family. RIP. Love Jami Maule Belnap

John

March 31, 2016

There are teachers that you care in your memory your entire life. Mr Greenleaf was one of those teachers. I learned and have never forgotten. Thank you, Sir. You will be missed but not forgotten.

John - CAP class of '62

sue benveniste

March 31, 2016

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." Khalil Gibran

Dear Greenleaf Family,
Sending heartfelt love and condolences to you all for the loss of your dad. As others have stated in their remembrances, I too feel we were all very lucky to have grow up in Millbrae in the time we did .Greg Frediani's interviews with many of Cap's teachers echo Mr.Grosse's feelings of a truly intertwined community, for both staff and students. That feeling was exemplified by you dad, such a warm presence at Cap.
I pray your memories of better days will comfort you , and the knowledge that many others share the sorrow of you loss, and the joy of being part of his tribe.

Steve Johnson

March 31, 2016

Thank you for being a great teacher and football coach.

March 30, 2016

Dear Greenleaf family,

I didn't last long under coach Greenleaf (washed out after three weeks in freshman football) but always appreciated his humor and gentleness. He seemed to have a joyful demeanor. I didn't know he was a seminarian and a Fullbright scholar, but I'm not surprised. Capuchino has lost a great figure of its history with his passing.

Love to his family.

Regards,

Bob Boles '74

Dave Streeter

March 30, 2016

I never had Bill as a class instructor, but he was my track coach for all of my four years at Cap from 1954-1958. I believe he was the most influential person on the faculty to my development at Cap, and I feel privileged and grateful for the time I had to spend with him. God bless him, and his family.

Annetta Giambruno

March 29, 2016

Such a wonderful man that always had a smile on his face. His memory will always be in my heart ❤

Greg Frediani

March 29, 2016

In wishing to commemorate Capuchino's history for the Class of '76's 30th reunion in 2006, I wanted Mr. Greenleaf to be a part of the tribute. I don't believe I had ever said a word to him during my four years at Cap. I never had him as a coach, a counselor, or a teacher. I'm not sure he ever knew who I was. But I knew what a central figure he was to many students and to the school in general and I was thrilled when he agreed to sit down with me - twice - in his backyard at his home in the Hayward hills.

I say twice because in reviewing our 90-minute interview, I was horrified to discover there were technical audio problems, and the only real way to fix it, was to do an entire second interview session - which we did, and which was very fruitful.

Like I say, I had never crossed his path at any moment in my four years at Cap, and the one predominate feeling / discovery I took away from those very nice minutes with him in the backyard, were that I had missed out on something - a special personality and a special presence. And I felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to tap into that in this unique way so many years later.

My condolences to the family and friends, and a renewed appreciation to the high school community we were all fortunate to be a part of - one which Mr. Greenleaf was such an integral part of building.

Ken Wilson

March 29, 2016

Many years have passed since I graduated (class of 1960) and many of the memories of my experiences at Cap have faded, but I won't forget the name Bill Greenleaf - one of the really fine and kind teachers I had in high school.

My condolences to your family in your loss.

Sincerely, Ken Wilson

March 29, 2016

Mr. Greenleaf is probably one of two teachers I remember from High School. What a patient man and he needed it teaching me Latin. Its a wonderful thing when you leave the kind of memories he has.
Please accept my sincere condolences on your loss.
Bernice Pattison

March 29, 2016

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

Stephen Jaeger

March 29, 2016

Dear Greenleaf family,
The news of Mr. Greenleaf's passing has saddened me very much. I share your grief in ways that probably would have taken him by surprise. I took his Latin class for four years (Cap grad, 1958). I was kind of a nuisance, and he let me know it. As it turns out, the Latin I learned was very important for my later work (historical research). I thought of him very often and wrote an article in the Cap 58 alumni magazine devoted to him.
The teacher that really meant a lot to you stays in your memory kind of like a parent. He is there in mine, and, I guess, will stay there.
My deepest condolences,
Stephen Jaeger

March 28, 2016

What a wonderful guy. "Coach" Greenleaf was my favorite teacher when I was a Freshman at Ione High....a few years ago! He & Bobs became great friends of my parents, Doc & Dot, & we all agreed that having the Greenleaf family move to Ione was the best thing that ever happened to that sleepy little town. We were sad to see him leave but we understood that he needed to move on to advance his career. And now he's moved on again. I'll never forget him. Bobbie Sinclair Quinn

Jeanne Bertini

March 28, 2016

Sending sincere condolences from all three of us, Jeanne, Rob, and Bil Bertini. Many wonderful memories of Capuchino faculty wives, after-games get-togethers, and all the good friends.
Thinking of you Bobbie, Love, Jeanne

Uncle Stanley

Stanley Grosse

March 28, 2016

Dear Greenleaf family, with sadness in my heart and joyful memories, I say aloha. Your dearest father and mother were were very Special friends of mine, Teaching together from 1956 on, me in the Art Dept. a smilend your dad in PE and social studies at dear Capuchino high school. I remember so many wonderful memories of your dad and mom in those early days at Cap. Halloween parties, Christmas parties, the PE fishing trips. I was the token artist, (the PE department always included me in those trips). Your dad was a special guy with that wonderful smile, that was never kept in his back pocket, but always in front all to see.
I was Lucky enough to have some of you in one of my classes whether it was art or ceramics, that was back in the 60s or 70s. Those were special times, But I'm sure you know that. Nothing like it before and nothing like it after. Small groups would come in to the art department and ceramic lab bringing your instruments so you can "jam" for 30 or 40 minutes.
As I recall, your family had a Half year sabbatical leave in Europe. Your dad told me many stories about that special time. I followed you with my family the next year 1973-74 living in Spain and touring all through Europe and North Africa. Remember those days? Those are the kinds of memories that I had with my parents. Not Europe but New York to California in the 40s. I only mention this because, those are the kinds of Beautiful things we recall as our parents leave us. I'm rambling, but I have such great admiration for you as a family and your dad and mom as the best parents never. I share my tears with you with such incredible memories. Bless you all, and bless your mom and dad who are together now. Uncle Stanley,

If you would like to call or email me, or 480-221-4085. Going on eight years ago, we moved to Maui full-time. Giant hugs and lots of love......

Sandraline (Sandy) Cederwall

March 28, 2016

In 1966 several of my UCSB friends and I were lucky enough to be part of a 5 country summer seminar tour with "Mr. & Mrs. Greenleaf"(as we called them). Our first experience in Europe was absolutely special because of those two people. I think the Greenleafs only had 4 children at that time. We felt those kids were so lucky to have such cool parents. The Greenleafs left us with wonderful life long memories. Much love to Mrs. Greenleaf and the whole family.

Minell Baughman Fredricks

March 27, 2016

To all the Greenleaf family I send my deep condolences...Mr. Greenleaf was a great teacher, counselor and coach...He leaves such wonderful memories for us all.

Ted Mitchell

March 27, 2016

In the late 1950s, I had the pleasure of having Coach Greenleaf as my coach for both football and track. He was a true gentleman, a wonderful coach & someone who always took the time to help others. I've never forgotten him & have nothing but fond memories of him and his children. Congratulations on a life well lived. Ted Mitchell 3/27/2016

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