William Doan Caswell Jr.

William Doan Caswell Jr. of Long Beach, age 87, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by family. He is survived by his daughters (and their husbands): Heather Caswell (Jonathan Greenberg), Nancy Coward (Tom Coward), and Michelle Shea (Kevin Shea); grandsons: Kevin Coward, Brian Coward, and Alexander Shea; and sisters: Betty Fay, Jaine Flanagan, and Roberta Ohno. He was preceded in death by his wife Rose (Ducky) Caswell and brother Jack Caswell.

Bill, as he was known by family and friends, was born on October 14, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio to William Doan Caswell Sr. and Anna Marie Foster. He grew up in the Cleveland suburb of South Euclid, graduated from Latin Cathedral Preparatory School, and attended Dayton University. Bill was a talented salesman and worked in retail advertising for the Cleveland Press, Philadelphia Bulletin, San Jose Mercury News, and Long Beach Press-Telegram, where many of his colleagues became close friends.

His daughters, Heather and Nancy, were born in Cleveland, and they moved to Philadelphia shortly thereafter in 1964. He shared a love for fashion with Heather, having a closet full of funky ties and colorful shirts. He shared a passion for sports with Nancy, notably as a diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan.

Bill made the cross-country move to Long Beach in 1980, married the love of his life (Ducky) in 1985, and their daughter (Michelle) was born in 1987. Bill and Ducky were very active in the Long Beach community, including the Kiwanis Club. Upon retirement, Bill and Ducky became property managers, and Bill particularly enjoyed the social aspect of the job, getting to know most of his tenants personally.

Bill’s favorite hobby was baseball, which started in his youth as a player and carried into adulthood as a spectator, rarely missing a Phillies game. His knowledge of baseball trivia was only rivaled by his extensive sportswear collection, his sweet tooth, and his love for Frank Sinatra (teaching Michelle all of the classics). Beyond the Phillies, he enjoyed having breakfast with friends, spending time with his grandsons, and walking his dogs around Naples Canal.

Bill was always quick to talk to strangers and his chance encounters often led to lifelong friendships. He was a loving father and a favorite uncle to many nephews and nieces. His extensive network of close friends and family members are a testament to his engaging personality and the care he put into those relationships which endured throughout his long life.

Bill’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 6th at 1:00 pm at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church (5100 East Broadway, Long Beach), with a celebration of life to take place following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: The American Cancer Society.