My sincerest condolences to Bill’s family and friends. He was a great colleague at PCH. He hired me as a consultant to help with the annual contest. I thought it was a scam but Bill said “no way.”. He showed me the check and even invited me to see the check presentation.  I help him hire and train thousands of part-times to hand process thousands of entries. That was before computers.  When it was too hot in the warehouse, Bill purchased hundreds of large fans to keep us all cool.  I loved working for him for many years and we became friends after that. He will be missed….a lot. Rosalie Hakker

One of many memories of my time with Bill at Publishers Clearing House:

With a tennis match coming up in a few days, Bill and I talked strategy on how to beat two clearly better players. We first thought perhaps we would take them out drinking the night before and ply them with enough alcohol to impair their game the next night. We quickly realized this wouldn’t work since our opponents were much better drinkers than we were. Bill then suggested psychological warfare. I was very skeptical but couldn’t come up with a better idea, so I agreed.
Bill went out and purchased a trophy and had it engraved with “Grudge Match Winner: Johnson/Lester.” We then presented the trophy to our opponents the day before the match, telling them that’s how certain we were that we were going to win.
The match was long and fierce, and a miracle did happen. Bill and I won! 
Bill gave me the prized trophy afterward, and I promptly placed it on a shelf in my office for all to see. The very next morning our opponent Tom Lagan stole it and had it put in the absurd location where PCH employees arrived to find it that morning atop a ladder in the middle of the pond in front of PCH. Tom was looking forward to watching one of us wade through the water to retrieve our trophy, but Bill and I came up with a better idea. “Let’s just leave it there!” we said.
We told Tom we had no problem with the trophy staying in the middle of the pond for all to see. We were more than happy to share the story with those wondering about the unusual sight.
A few days later, Tom reluctantly had the trophy retrieved and gave it back to us. And I returned it to its rightful place in my office.

Above is a photo of Bill and me. We had been out of touch for a while and the reunion photo shows our adoration for each other.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Kathy and family at this difficult
time and so sorry we could not be there.  We are so glad that we got to see him a few weeks ago when we were up there on Long Island.
We have had many good times with Bill over the years and will miss
him tremendously.  He was a dear friend and will always cherish the 
memories of time spent together.
Love & Hugs
 Vinnie  & Ann Donovan

I worked with Bill on the newsletter. We caught up monthly and he was so proud of his family who he spoke of so fondly. He also did so much for his community newsletter and was so invested in it. He became a friend and I could tell he must have been a passionate hard working man his whole life. He will be missed. 
Alyssa Peluso

Bill Johnson as Editor of Birchwood’s Spring Lake community News with his staff

Bill and I became friends after he read my first article that was published in the BSL newspaper entitled "Growing up on LI in the 60's and 70's." We shared a love of our favorite NY sports teams and especially the LI Ducks , a minor league hockey team that played it's home games in Commack ( pronounced Komm-Ack) as per Bill. 

Bill, thanks for all the nice chats we had about the past and your feedback about all my articles and ideas. I would like to help keep the BSL newspaper alive as you would have liked and think that the talented team you brought together can pull that off and further your legacy. My condolences to your family and may you rest in peace my friend.                Sincerely,  Steven J. Melicharek

Sending love to you,Kathy, and your beautiful family. 
Bill will forever be remembered as an incredible and whip smart man who cherished his loved ones and enjoyed life.  To me, Bill will always and has always had a place in my heart … 
I remember your wedding and how he always said you were the best thing that’s happened to him 💕

When someone larger than life passes… it’s hard to reconcile… but he lived, loved and cherished his love ones… so I say he’s a true winner!
Anita

Deepest sympathy to all who loved Bill. It was my pleasure to know him as editor of our community newsletter, always responsive and available to me as an occasional contributor. Bill also volunteered along with my husband, Don, at our annual Breast Cancer walk, sitting outside in the hot sun, a real trooper.  Praying you rest easy now Bill.
Christine & Don Bentley

OBITUARY

William Henry Johnson

October 30, 1943 – April 29, 2026

O.B. Davis Funeral Homes

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