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https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=bill-morgan&pid=197158044
William Robert Morgan
June 13, 1952 - October 6, 2020
Bill was born at Mills Memorial Hospital at San Mateo, California on June 13, 1952 to Bob and Lois Morgan of Palo Alto, California. He was raised in Palo Alto, attended local schools, excelled in wrestling, swimming, water polo and was a member of the fun-loving Fuzz Burgers Basketball Team. After graduation from Palo Alto High School he went to college at University of California, Davis where he achieved a B.S. in Agricultural Economics. After Davis, Bill married his college sweetheart, Caren Hovden. Bill stepped into the family business at Crown Industrial in South San Francisco. Here, he learned electrical engineering and worked to expand the business including system design and engineering, wholesale hardware, industrial door and gate manufacture and installation with electric operators. Bill's creativity meant there was never a problem too hard for him to solve. He did not give up on a challenge. Bill cherished working with family and friends at the business. His parents, sister, son, and two cousins were part of the team.
Bill's love for life was an inspiration to all those around him. He tackled every day with a smile on his face. He was best known for his total undeniable love for fun, adventure, work and his devotion to family. Sailboat racing, mountain biking, snowmobiling, snow skiing, waterskiing, playing tennis and dancing filled his weekends and vacations with pleasure. Bill, Billy, Wild Billski, BABS, Poppa, Pop Pop, Mr. Social, or Life of the Party Bill, as some would call him, would go to the ends of the Earth for his family and friends with generosity and a sense of humor that will be greatly missed by all but never forgotten. Friendship to Bill was everlasting and across all ages.
Bill passed away peacefully surrounded by his family the morning of October 6, 2020 at the age of 68. He showed immeasurable strength and bravery fighting A.L.S. (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) which took his life 20 months after his diagnosis. Bill is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dr. Caren Hovden Morgan, his son, Brian Morgan and wife, Christina Morgan, his daughter, Dr. Kristen Morgan Sheaff and husband, Justin Sheaff, his parents, Bob and Lois Morgan, his three grandchildren, Charles Morgan, Julia Morgan, and Kaylee Sheaff, his sister, Beverly Morgan Kiehl and husband, Dick Kiehl, his brother-in-law, Dr. Kenneth Hovden and wife, Laura Hovden, his niece and nephew, Taira and Chase Hovden and his father-in-law, Dr. Charles Hovden. He is predeceased by his mother-in-law, Dr. Marion Motzer Hovden, grandparents, Albert H. Morgan and Florence Trowbridge Morgan, Russel Payne and Florence Jenkins Payne. Bill was a 5th generation California native dating from 1849.
At Bill's request no services will be held at this time. We hope to hold a celebration of his life when circumstances permit. Contributions in Bill's honor can be made to the CPMC Neuroscience program at Forbes/Norris ALS/MDA clinic in San Francisco, or Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry the Hovden Family Endowment, or a charity of your choice.
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Rick Cohen
I got to know Bill through our years together on the wrestling team. He was an outstanding competitor and always one of the most supportive and caring teammates around. Bill's smile was infectious and he was just someone I always enjoyed being around. After high school, it was always a pleasure to see him again at gatherings or reunions. I marveled at Bill's Facebook posts that usually included pictures of him skiing, water skiing or engaging in numerous other outdoor activities with his family. Bill was just a great guy and I will miss him. Rest well my friend.
Eric "Rick" Cohen
Judi Zuckert
Bill Morgan and I were high school sweethearts, and during that time we both learned the foundations of what makes a good relationship. In occasional conversations with Bill over the years, I learned that he went on to have a wonderful wife and family and a rewarding life. I am greatly saddened by his family's loss, at what now seems a relatively young age. Bill was always such a kind, generous and fun-loving companion. I have many high school memories about our time together, although some are fading. We sailed on the Bay in his family's Daysailer, and once our boat was way out in the lead in a regatta when the race was cancelled due to high winds. We drove to the beach in his Firebird, went to dances, parties, games, wrestling meets. On graduation night we drove to Santa Cruz specifically to go underneath the huge wooden amusement park boardwalk - was that really a Paly tradition? Bill made an intricate inlaid salad bowl in woodshop that he gave to my mother as a gift, and which she continues to use for every special occasion that includes a salad. The bowl is still beautiful after all these years.
Craig W. Hofstetter
Bill was truly one of those rare people who was impossible to not like and respect … even when he was tying you in knots on the wrestling mat (first-hand experience). In a class full of outstanding individuals, Bill was right at the top. This is a huge loss for all of us.
Craig Hofstetter
Susan Edwards (Ogle)
I knew that Bill was having a hard time but still hearing of his passing was a sad day. I didn't know him after Paly but loved reading about the man he became. I remember him as always kind and a bit shy. My condolences to his family and friends.
These are particularly hard times for a loved one to die because we can't honor their life the way we would want to-surrounded by friends and family sharing stories. This forum is way to be able to do that. Thanks to all who have shared their thoughts and memories.
Katherine Keller (Wilson)
Sad, too young! I did not know him, but do remember him. This year makes it expecially difficult for his family, I'm sure.
Steve Sevilla
Oh, Geez —Yet, another testimony of how fast Life-flies —I recall Bill, most profoundly, for his quiet, unassuming nature ...Easy-going, friendly, while a beast on the wresting mat, showing a wonderful athletically-competitive spirit in the true balanced nature of what sport mirrors ...On Coach Wes Fisher's iconically fierce perennially championship Viking Mat-Men squad, Bill was, affectionally, referred to as "Spider Man", for his long-lean frame and ability to intuitively-read an opponent and smother them with his long limbs —God bless you, Bill; rest-easy, my Friend ...Thanks, for all that you are.
Pete Keesling
I’ll echo comments by Walt(#2), and Curt(#3) and everyone else that knew Bill. Here was a guy that knew how to enjoy life, especially sharing time with friends.
The Fabulous Fuzzburgers started senior year as a smart-ass group of 6 guys that just wanted to play some basketball. Each of us had a nickname; Bill’s was “Masticator Morgan”. We played in a Palo Alto City League and took first place. Later, we beat the Paly JV team in a scrimmage. Bill, the champion wrestler, hustled all over the basketball court and drove the opposition crazy. He was a wrestler on the basketball court and he loved the competition.
Brad Fenz, Bill and I shared an apartment our senior year in college. Together, we played nearly every intramural sport, including one of Bill’s favorites, coed inner tube water polo. Our time together was nothing but fun. Later on, Brad and I were ushers when Bill and Caren married. They always seemed the perfect couple. She shared his love for adventure and friends.
The Fuzzburgers have remained friends, getting together for dinner several times each year since college. Losing Bill is like losing a brother. He always lit up the room with his smile and sense of humor. He loved being with friends. He really did know how to enjoy life…
Martha E. Morgan
I'm sorry to hear about Bill passsing he was a nice guy and very well liked. My prayers and wishes are with his family during this diffiicult time.
Rob Chase
I didn't really know Bill in high school, but we had a long conversation at the 40th reunion and he made me feel like I had always been a friend. It prompted me to go back to the galleries of photos from the reunions. It's worth a visit if you have the time. It is hard to see photos of those who are no longer with us, but so wonderful to realize what an amazing group of people we were lucky to share time with at Paly. RIP Bill and all our other classmates who have shuffled off the mortal coil. Let's all look forward to a time when we can gather again.
Ken Stalder
Bill was one of the nicest guys you would ever know. And he was very athletic, well into his 60's. For those of us who socialized with him on a semi-regular basis, it was particulary hard to see him decline so rapidly in just a couple of years. ALS is such a devastating disease. RIP, Bill.