Albert William Simpson, Jr.

Bill Simpson, age 87 years, of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, died on Thursday, July 23, 2009, at his residence.

Born in Milwaukee, WI, June 2, 1922, he was the son of the late Albert William Sr. and Claire Macdonald Simpson. He was raised in the Bronx, NY, and later in Queens, NY, moving to Franklin Township fifty-two years ago.

During WWII, he served as a navy pilot in the Pacific theater.

He graduated from Bates College, Lewiston, ME, where he was an exceptional athlete, earning all New England League honors for basketball, which became his lifelong passion. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1949, but opted for a career in publishing. He was an advertising executive with Popular Mechanics magazine for ten years, and later formed his own very successful company publishing foreign language trade magazines.

Mr. Simpson was a former Franklin Township School Board member, and was instrumental in building the gym at the school. He was also very involved in the Senior Olympics, where he was a gold medalist in shooting and 3-on-3 basketball, and played well into his eighties. Mr. Simpson ran the Women’s Summer Basketball League in Franklin Township for twenty-four years, which was the first women’s league in New Jersey sanctioned by the NCAA.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-nine years, Joyce Lyon Simpson; four sons, James B. Simpson of Bloomfield, NJ, Kenneth L. Simpson of Raubsville, PA, Steven M. Simpson of Alexandria, VA, and Richard B. Simpson of Brooklyn, NY; a daughter, Patricia Simpson Webster of Springfield Center, NY; and six grandchildren: Claire, Joseph, Charles, Kate, Julia, and Natalie.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2009, at 3:00 p.m. in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Interment will be private. Calling hours will be held on August 8th from 2:00 p.m. until time of service in the funeral home.

Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information, or to send condolences.