William Lee Richardson

November 11th, 1949 - September 21st, 2026

William Lee “Bill” Richardson was born November 11, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. From an early age, he was fascinated by how things worked, with a mind drawn to machines, mechanics and problems to solve. That fascination would follow him through a life filled with adventure and many interests, eventually making him one of the world’s premier specialists in restoring vintage Porsche and Mercedes automobiles. Good friend Larry Kay once told Bill, “Your hands bring history to life.”

Determined to do things his own way, the gears in Bill’s mind were always turning and he was encouraged by his parents to understand how things work. His mother, Fawn, was a talented seamstress and dressmaker. His father, Lee, was a precision machinist and inventor.

Bill’s remarkable mind and extraordinary work ethic defined his life, along with a deep love for family and nature. Boy Scouts shaped his early years and deepened a connection to the outdoors that would stay with him throughout his life. Arriving in Arizona in the early 1960s, he was greeted with open desert and dirt roads. He spent time at Remuda Ranch among horses and some of the last real cowboys of a disappearing era. Then came dirt bikes, collecting reptiles, camping, fishing and hiking. Beyond the desert were gymnastics, swimming, archery, shooting and golf.

By high school, those adventures had taken a more colorful turn. At Phoenix’s Legend City Theme Park, Bill and longtime friend Mike Parker worked as gunfighters and stuntmen, robbing trains, performing gunfights and appearing as the warm-up act for Wallace & Ladmo, iconic hosts of the popular children’s show on local television. (Regarding the law, Bill would like to make apologies to Tonto National Forest for swimming nude in Christopher Creek, and to Arcadia High School for flushing cherry bombs down the toilets in the boys’ restroom.)

Early on, young “Billy” tagged along at his father’s Richardson Camera Co. in Burbank, California. There he became fascinated with machinery and the process of making things. He later studied photography with Ansel Adams, built a darkroom in his home and brought the natural world to life in photos of landscapes and wildlife. In college, Bill met longtime friend Bruce Demenge, and decided that Porsches were nearly as cool as girls. For his 21st birthday, Bill and his father set off through Europe, including a visit to the Porsche factory in Stuttgart—his father had ordered a silver Porsche 911E Targa as a special birthday gift!

Bill grew up in an environment where car parts were often cleaned in the dishwasher and projects ranged from rebuilding engines to working on motion picture equipment. Before venturing off on his own, Bill worked alongside his father continuing the legacy of Richardson Camera Co. In 1975, Bill traveled to California to meet with a small production company who had acquired an old film mechanism manufactured by Richardson Camera Co and wanted to modify it for special effects. The proprietor was George Lucas. Upon his return, Bill somewhat dismayed, said “They’re a bunch of hippies trying to make a movie with a warehouse full of fiberglass space aliens.” That project became an integral part of the first Star Wars film in 1977.

After helping his father restore a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, Bill found his passion and started Richardson Restoration & Machine Werks—the business that would define his career and international reputation. His beloved shop evolved from a love for cars, engines and making them perfect. Later on, Porsche restoration and the intricate four-cam engine became his specialty.

As Scoutmaster and through the YMCA Indian Guides, his love for the outdoors was passed on to his kids. Whether launching them off his shoulders in the family pool, backpacking the Grand Canyon, canoeing or teaching them about Arizona’s native plants and wildlife—and of course snakes—he never gave up a chance to be outside. His love of animals included rescuing snakes and desert tortoises, with more than one roadside reptile receiving a personal escort out of harm’s way. Bill also had more dogs than anyone could reasonably keep count of, and was often adopted himself—most notably by his infamous six-toed cat, Sixx.

Family legacy was important to Bill. Continuing the tradition shared by his father and Uncle Maurice, he became a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite Mason and lifetime member of Silver Trowel Lodge in Phoenix. Later in life, Bill was scuba-certified and even completed yoga teacher training, simply for the experience.

Bill was a man of few words but enormous presence, and that same strength carried him through the greatest challenge of his life. In 2014, a large meningioma tumor was successfully removed from Bill’s brain. Despite multiple surgeries, radiation and treatment with drugs, the tumors were relentless. For 12 years, Bill showed tremendous courage and persevered through what seemed impossible. In 2019 he became the first patient ever treated with the pioneering ZAP-X Radiosurgery system, and was the subject of a short documentary: First in Man https://firstinmanfilm.com

Bill is remembered and loved by his son, Brian Richardson; his daughter, Dana Richardson; grandchildren, Ström Richardson and Zinnia Richardson; brother, Forrest (Valerie) Richardson; niece, Haley Lu Richardson; and cousins Bob Richardson and Eileen (Wayne) Dohse. He is survived by his former wife, Nancy Richardson.

Bill Richardson leaves behind the unmistakable imprint of a remarkable mind, a playful sense of humor, a lifetime of craftsmanship, and a fighting spirit that refused to surrender.

A Celebration of Life is planned to take place later in 2026. For updates contact:

[email protected]

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