Collins, William 03/22/1945 ~ 05/12/2014 LEUCADIA
-- William R. "Bill"* Collins was born in Ohio. He died at home, surrounded by his loving family, from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). He was 69.
Bill's family moved to La Jolla when he was three. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1963, and went on to study Dairy Management at the University of Wyoming. The winters there proved too rigorous for this skate boarding California surfer who grew up at Windansea, and he returned home after a couple years. As a child, Bill spent weeks every summer at Plantation, a camp in Northern California. For him the experience was transformative. He learned farm management, animal care, and outdoor survival skills - lessons he carried with him the rest of his life. He continued to dream of owning a ranch with livestock. He loved animals, and they loved him back - everything from cows to bighorn sheep to dogs and cats. He began his career at UCSD in the late 1960's, ultimately advancing to the position of Principal Museum Scientist at the School of Medicine. He was in charge of the Willed Body Donation program, coordinated the Anatomy Lab, and became an expert in the process of anatomic plastination. Following retirement in 1995 he facilitated CME courses around the country. He also went to work for La Jolla Industries, the corporation started by his grandfather Walter. He was Vice President at the time of his death.
In 1969, Bill married Rosemary Mattera and they had two daughters, Cassandra (C.C.) and Michele. After their divorce in 1976, he remained a proud and involved father. He met Ann when she was a student at the medical school, and they married in 1994. He always said "she came for lunch and never left," only a slight exaggeration. In 2009 he welcomed his first grandchild, Orion James, and relished his new role as"Papa." A devoted son, Bill was very close to his mother who died just 3 years ago following a 20-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
Bill lived in north San Diego County his entire adult life, but his spiritual center was undoubtedly Borrego Springs, where his grandfather had purchased land in the 1950's. He spent time at the Tubb Canyon ranch property as often as possible throughout his lifetime, and indeed was last there the week before he died. He was a tireless advocate for the desert community, serving for many years on the Borrego Springs Community Sponsor Group, including stints as Chairperson. Bill loved to travel. His favorite trips were a luxury barge cruise on the canals of Alsace, France, and an Alaska adventure. The last few years Bill took the whole family on annual vacations to Kauai, happy to share that with his daughters and grandson.Bill was predeceased by his parents, his brother James, and his namesake uncle William Regenhardt.
He is survived by his wife Ann Irwin, daughters Cassandra and Michele, son-in-law Cheyenne Covington and grandson Orion. He also leaves behind his aunt Joann Regenhardt, cousins in both California and Ohio, and many lifelong friends.
He was very outgoing, gave the best bear hugs, and is greatly missed.The family would like to thank the staff of Interim Healthcare, the Gift of Hospice, for their loving care and knowledgeable management of his cancer. Although he received hospice care for less than a month, he was finally pain free and comfortable, a blessing beyond words. A small private memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Heifer International.
Published in U-T San Diego on Aug. 24, 2014
===================================
-- William R. "Bill"* Collins was born in Ohio. He died at home, surrounded by his loving family, from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). He was 69.
Bill's family moved to La Jolla when he was three. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1963, and went on to study Dairy Management at the University of Wyoming. The winters there proved too rigorous for this skate boarding California surfer who grew up at Windansea, and he returned home after a couple years. As a child, Bill spent weeks every summer at Plantation, a camp in Northern California. For him the experience was transformative. He learned farm management, animal care, and outdoor survival skills - lessons he carried with him the rest of his life. He continued to dream of owning a ranch with livestock. He loved animals, and they loved him back - everything from cows to bighorn sheep to dogs and cats. He began his career at UCSD in the late 1960's, ultimately advancing to the position of Principal Museum Scientist at the School of Medicine. He was in charge of the Willed Body Donation program, coordinated the Anatomy Lab, and became an expert in the process of anatomic plastination. Following retirement in 1995 he facilitated CME courses around the country. He also went to work for La Jolla Industries, the corporation started by his grandfather Walter. He was Vice President at the time of his death.
In 1969, Bill married Rosemary Mattera and they had two daughters, Cassandra (C.C.) and Michele. After their divorce in 1976, he remained a proud and involved father. He met Ann when she was a student at the medical school, and they married in 1994. He always said "she came for lunch and never left," only a slight exaggeration. In 2009 he welcomed his first grandchild, Orion James, and relished his new role as"Papa." A devoted son, Bill was very close to his mother who died just 3 years ago following a 20-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
Bill lived in north San Diego County his entire adult life, but his spiritual center was undoubtedly Borrego Springs, where his grandfather had purchased land in the 1950's. He spent time at the Tubb Canyon ranch property as often as possible throughout his lifetime, and indeed was last there the week before he died. He was a tireless advocate for the desert community, serving for many years on the Borrego Springs Community Sponsor Group, including stints as Chairperson. Bill loved to travel. His favorite trips were a luxury barge cruise on the canals of Alsace, France, and an Alaska adventure. The last few years Bill took the whole family on annual vacations to Kauai, happy to share that with his daughters and grandson.Bill was predeceased by his parents, his brother James, and his namesake uncle William Regenhardt.
He is survived by his wife Ann Irwin, daughters Cassandra and Michele, son-in-law Cheyenne Covington and grandson Orion. He also leaves behind his aunt Joann Regenhardt, cousins in both California and Ohio, and many lifelong friends.
He was very outgoing, gave the best bear hugs, and is greatly missed.The family would like to thank the staff of Interim Healthcare, the Gift of Hospice, for their loving care and knowledgeable management of his cancer. Although he received hospice care for less than a month, he was finally pain free and comfortable, a blessing beyond words. A small private memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Heifer International.
Published in U-T San Diego on Aug. 24, 2014
===================================
Collins, William 03/22/1945 ~ 05/12/2014 LEUCADIA
-- William R. "Bill"* Collins was born in Ohio. He died at home, surrounded by his loving family, from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). He was 69.
Bill's family moved to La Jolla when he was three. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1963, and went on to study Dairy Management at the University of Wyoming. The winters there proved too rigorous for this skate boarding California surfer who grew up at Windansea, and he returned home after a couple years. As a child, Bill spent weeks every summer at Plantation, a camp in Northern California. For him the experience was transformative. He learned farm management, animal care, and outdoor survival skills - lessons he carried with him the rest of his life. He continued to dream of owning a ranch with livestock. He loved animals, and they loved him back - everything from cows to bighorn sheep to dogs and cats. He began his career at UCSD in the late 1960's, ultimately advancing to the position of Principal Museum Scientist at the School of Medicine. He was in charge of the Willed Body Donation program, coordinated the Anatomy Lab, and became an expert in the process of anatomic plastination. Following retirement in 1995 he facilitated CME courses around the country. He also went to work for La Jolla Industries, the corporation started by his grandfather Walter. He was Vice President at the time of his death.
In 1969, Bill married Rosemary Mattera and they had two daughters, Cassandra (C.C.) and Michele. After their divorce in 1976, he remained a proud and involved father. He met Ann when she was a student at the medical school, and they married in 1994. He always said "she came for lunch and never left," only a slight exaggeration. In 2009 he welcomed his first grandchild, Orion James, and relished his new role as"Papa." A devoted son, Bill was very close to his mother who died just 3 years ago following a 20-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
Bill lived in north San Diego County his entire adult life, but his spiritual center was undoubtedly Borrego Springs, where his grandfather had purchased land in the 1950's. He spent time at the Tubb Canyon ranch property as often as possible throughout his lifetime, and indeed was last there the week before he died. He was a tireless advocate for the desert community, serving for many years on the Borrego Springs Community Sponsor Group, including stints as Chairperson. Bill loved to travel. His favorite trips were a luxury barge cruise on the canals of Alsace, France, and an Alaska adventure. The last few years Bill took the whole family on annual vacations to Kauai, happy to share that with his daughters and grandson.Bill was predeceased by his parents, his brother James, and his namesake uncle William Regenhardt.
He is survived by his wife Ann Irwin, daughters Cassandra and Michele, son-in-law Cheyenne Covington and grandson Orion. He also leaves behind his aunt Joann Regenhardt, cousins in both California and Ohio, and many lifelong friends.
He was very outgoing, gave the best bear hugs, and is greatly missed.The family would like to thank the staff of Interim Healthcare, the Gift of Hospice, for their loving care and knowledgeable management of his cancer. Although he received hospice care for less than a month, he was finally pain free and comfortable, a blessing beyond words. A small private memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Heifer International.
Published in U-T San Diego on Aug. 24, 2014
===================================
-- William R. "Bill"* Collins was born in Ohio. He died at home, surrounded by his loving family, from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). He was 69.
Bill's family moved to La Jolla when he was three. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1963, and went on to study Dairy Management at the University of Wyoming. The winters there proved too rigorous for this skate boarding California surfer who grew up at Windansea, and he returned home after a couple years. As a child, Bill spent weeks every summer at Plantation, a camp in Northern California. For him the experience was transformative. He learned farm management, animal care, and outdoor survival skills - lessons he carried with him the rest of his life. He continued to dream of owning a ranch with livestock. He loved animals, and they loved him back - everything from cows to bighorn sheep to dogs and cats. He began his career at UCSD in the late 1960's, ultimately advancing to the position of Principal Museum Scientist at the School of Medicine. He was in charge of the Willed Body Donation program, coordinated the Anatomy Lab, and became an expert in the process of anatomic plastination. Following retirement in 1995 he facilitated CME courses around the country. He also went to work for La Jolla Industries, the corporation started by his grandfather Walter. He was Vice President at the time of his death.
In 1969, Bill married Rosemary Mattera and they had two daughters, Cassandra (C.C.) and Michele. After their divorce in 1976, he remained a proud and involved father. He met Ann when she was a student at the medical school, and they married in 1994. He always said "she came for lunch and never left," only a slight exaggeration. In 2009 he welcomed his first grandchild, Orion James, and relished his new role as"Papa." A devoted son, Bill was very close to his mother who died just 3 years ago following a 20-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
Bill lived in north San Diego County his entire adult life, but his spiritual center was undoubtedly Borrego Springs, where his grandfather had purchased land in the 1950's. He spent time at the Tubb Canyon ranch property as often as possible throughout his lifetime, and indeed was last there the week before he died. He was a tireless advocate for the desert community, serving for many years on the Borrego Springs Community Sponsor Group, including stints as Chairperson. Bill loved to travel. His favorite trips were a luxury barge cruise on the canals of Alsace, France, and an Alaska adventure. The last few years Bill took the whole family on annual vacations to Kauai, happy to share that with his daughters and grandson.Bill was predeceased by his parents, his brother James, and his namesake uncle William Regenhardt.
He is survived by his wife Ann Irwin, daughters Cassandra and Michele, son-in-law Cheyenne Covington and grandson Orion. He also leaves behind his aunt Joann Regenhardt, cousins in both California and Ohio, and many lifelong friends.
He was very outgoing, gave the best bear hugs, and is greatly missed.The family would like to thank the staff of Interim Healthcare, the Gift of Hospice, for their loving care and knowledgeable management of his cancer. Although he received hospice care for less than a month, he was finally pain free and comfortable, a blessing beyond words. A small private memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Heifer International.
Published in U-T San Diego on Aug. 24, 2014
===================================
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