William (Bill) Jay Gilbreth, 83, of Ojai, CA, passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2021, surrounded by family and caregivers. Born on October 30, 1937, in Denver, CO, to Evelyn Conway and John McKinley Gilbreth, Bill graduated from San Jose State College and Harvard Law School.
Bill was a partner at Fish & Neave, one of the nation's most respected law firms, in New York, NY. Before retiring in 1995, Bill specialized in patent litigation, representing Fortune 500 companies in the federal courts throughout the U.S.
Bill twice interrupted his private practice to serve the public. From 1968 to 1970, Bill served as federal prosecutor with the U.S. Justice Department, prosecuting organized crime figures. Later, Bill served on the legal staff of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, which investigated and prosecuted alleged offenses resulting from the Watergate break-in.
Public service was deeply important to Bill, who remained devoted to the communities he lived in throughout his life. Bill served as general counsel for Big Brothers of NYC and worked on many pro bono cases, including the recovery of property from the Nazis on behalf of a German Jewish family. Bill also provided legal assistance to the congregation of the Mountain of Holiness Deliverance, Inc., storefront church in Harlem, NY.
Bill continued to serve his community while living in Germantown, NY, and later in Ojai, CA, where he served as president of the Rotary Club.
Bill was an avid kayaker and art collector. Most of all, he enjoyed his family and friends — and a good game of Texas Hold ‘Em.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Sue; his son Conway; his son John, wife Erin, and their children Samantha, Sophia, and Joseph.
Bill is preceded in death by his brother John and survived by siblings Ann (Pfister), Stephen, Marie (Peterson), David, James, and their families.
In lieu of flowers and in light of Bill’s generous and practical nature, the family requests that contributions in Bill’s memory be made to the Rotary Club of Ojai Education Foundation(RCOEF) - Unrestricted Fund. Contributions can be made online: https://ojairotaryedfoundation.org/donate, or by sending a check payable to The Rotary Club of Ojai Education Foundation (please indicate “Unrestricted Funds” in the memo) to P.O. Box 1036, Ojai, CA, 93024, or by contacting Mike Weaver at 805-890-4551.
Photo credit to Graham Dunn.
Arrangements are under the direction of the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, Ventura.