William J. Hourigan Jr.

Loving husband and father, proud and devoted grandfather and great-grandfather, business owner, community leader, dedicated and longtime parishioner, Navy veteran, avid athlete, and diehard sports fan, Bill Hourigan lived a full and complete life. He passed away on January 17, 2024, after a brief illness.

Born in 1928 to Gladys (Perry) Hourigan and William J. Hourigan in Hoboken, New Jersey, Bill grew up in Teaneck with his younger brother Richard and younger sister Joan (Gaillard). He attended Xavier High School in Manhattan where he played football and baseball. Immediately after high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he proudly served as an ensign before his honorable discharge. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Springfield College in physical education and then graduated with a master’s degree from University of Michigan. Bill’s first job after college was also one of his favorites: he taught at Lawrenceville Prep School where he also was a housemaster and coached the track teams. One of his proudest achievements was coaching the indoor track team consisting of mostly freshmen and sophomores, and bringing back the first place trophy for the 1953 National Prep School Championship, and again at the 1954 Penn Relays where they successfully represented Lawrenceville Prep.

In 1954 he married the love of his life, Joan Bertrand, and shared a marriage of 69 years. After a brief sojourn in Philadelphia, they moved in 1956 to what was then the small town of Toms River where Bill became an independent insurance agent and started a successful business (Broome & Hourigan, Inc.) that continued for decades. He and Joan were active members of the community and parishioners at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, and raised four children Teresa (Neves), Mark, Virginia (Rich), and Thomas.

Bill and Joan raised their children to believe in the importance of their faith and in giving back to the community. Bill gave generously of his time: as a charter member of Toms River Jaycees, on the Board of Directors of the Ocean County Council of Boy Scouts, on the Executive Committee of the Ocean County College Foundation, on the board of directors of the Toms River Country Club, a member and president of the Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, and a long-serving member, past president, and Paul Harris Fellow of the Central Ocean Rotary. A lifelong Catholic, Bill was a devout parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church where he volunteered on the parish planning committee. He was co-chair of the planning and design committee for constructing the new church building which was finished in 1993. He actively supported the Community Medical Center for more than 25 years as a member of the board and chair of several committees, and the Community Medical Center Foundation. His commitment to the community was recognized when the Toms River Chamber of Commerce named him the 1986 Citizen of the Year.

Even with all the community involvement, family remained Bill’s top priority. Joan was first and foremost in his life, and they were a loving couple to the end. A loving and supportive father, Bill wanted his children to learn and try their best in whatever they wanted to do. Many happy days were spent teaching them how to ski, swim, play tennis and golf, waterski, and iceboat. The days of playing catch with his kids and then his grandkids continued for decades, and there wasn’t a game he wouldn’t play or try. Sportsmanship, integrity, and fair play were part of every aspect of his life and he passed these values on to his children and grandchildren, as were commitment to learning and giving dedicated effort. He enjoyed many lifelong friendships through ski trips, and games of tennis and rounds of golf in both Toms River and Fort Myers. Shooting his age on the golf course well into his 80’s was a source of delight to him and, as he said, “easier to do the older I get!” A lifelong NY Mets and a NY Giants fan, he started attending Giants games at the Polo Grounds in the 1950s and continued as a season ticket holder at the Meadowlands, agonizing over many a game while making sure that his family and guests were well supplied with blankets and hot drinks.

Bill is survived by his wife Joan; his brothers-in-law John Bertrand (Virginia) and Robert Bertrand (Alison); his daughter Terry Neves, his son Mark and wife Lisa, his daughter Ginny and her husband Michael L. Rich, and his son Tom and his wife Nancy. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Steve Neves, Dave Neves (Lauren Schweitzer), Will Hourigan (Samantha), Mark Hourigan Jr., Andrew Hourigan, Matthew Hourigan (Summer), Michael J. Rich (Francesca Cortese), and Grace Hourigan, and great granddaughters Kayla Neves and Cara Neves; and many loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. Bill was predeceased by his parents Gladys and Bill Hourigan, and siblings Richard and Joan.

Bill will be loved and missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 25, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 703 Main Street, Toms River. The funeral liturgy will be held on Friday, January 26, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, 685 Hooper Avenue, Toms River. Interment will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Community Medical Center Foundation would be appreciated.