William R. Walsh Jr.

William R. Walsh, Jr.- June 10, 1927-February 25, 2021
William “Bill” Raymond Walsh, Jr., 93 of Wall Township, NJ

It is with deep sorrow that the family announces that Bill passed away peacefully on the evening of February 25, 2021.

Bill was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey on June 10, 1927 to William R. Walsh Sr. and Mildred Precheur Walsh. He grew up in Union, New Jersey and graduated from St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. Immediately following graduation from St. Benedict’s he enlisted in the Army Air Force and served during World War II as a weather technician in Okinawa. He and his wife Helen Torsiello Walsh were married in August, 1950 and moved to Piscataway, New Jersey where they raised their family. After their children were grown they moved to the Jersey shore area and lived for many years in Brielle, New Jersey until they moved to Sunnyside Manor in Wall Township, New Jersey.

Bill was a loving, caring husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. His greatest joys were found in holiday and special occasion celebrations with his family, and he wrote eloquent letters of thanks and made special phone calls to his children and grandchildren after special family celebrations that they hosted and/or attended. He and his wife Helen organized memorable family events, including a celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary in Bermuda with their three children and their spouses and five grandchildren. Bill was always willing to provide a guiding hand to his children and grandchildren, using his famous “yellow pad” to sit down and map out the pros and cons of solutions to problems.

Bill obtained both undergraduate and Master’s degrees at Rutgers University, doing so while working full time. He began his career as a journalist with Spayth Weekly newspapers in Dunellen, New Jersey. Following that he served as School Business Administrator for the Piscataway Township Schools; and also taught Finance classes at University College, the evening division of Rutgers University. He was recruited to assist in the development of Middlesex County College where he utilized his financial expertise to secure the success of the new County college as the first Dean of Administration. Following that he was recruited in 1973 to serve as the first Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey. He subsequently was named Vice President for Finance, and in May, 1986 was elected as the first and only staff member to be elected to the Board. He retired from the Foundation in 1990 and was elected Trustee emeritus in 1991.

Bill also served on several Boards, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Middlesex General Hospital (now part of the RWJ/Barnabas Health system) . He also served on the Board of the Red Cross and the Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as several other Boards of Trustees. He was one of the founders of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (now Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey) . He received numerous awards and accolades for his service and contributions in both the education and health care fields.
Following his retirement Bill and his wife Helen spent winters in Florida at the home they owned in Parkland, Florida for many years; and Bill pursued his passion for golf there. He was a member at Spring Lake Golf Club in Spring Lake, New Jersey for many years. Throughout his life he played at golf courses throughout the country, and he participated in numerous golf outings and tournaments. He proudly wore his green jacket and loved to wear it to dinner at Sunnyside Manor.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Helen Walsh along with their three children Karen and her husband Peter Tarricone, William R. Walsh III, Colleen and her husband Michael Maroney, Jr. He is also survived by his sister, Marjorie Kristen Walsh and his five grandchildren Celeste Lemrow and her husband Justin, Peter D. Tarricone and his wife Danielle, Megan Maroney, Michael Maroney, and Allison Maroney Lobell and her husband Elliot. He leaves behind 4 great grandchildren. Bill is predeceased by his parents William Raymond Sr. and Mildred and his sister Mildred Walsh Klug.

Arrangements are under the care of Orender Family Home for Funerals. A memorial Mass will be planned for late Spring or early summer this year. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to either Middlesex County College Foundation, Attention Lisa Kelly, 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08818 and online at Foundation@middlesexcc.edu or Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center Foundation, Attention Matthew Lang, 1342 Campus Parkway Suite C4, Neptune, NJ 07753. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.net.