William Howard “Bill” Coffey
June 19, 1931 – October 2, 2026
William “Bill” Coffey passed away peacefully on October 2, 2026, at the age of 95, following a long and remarkable life defined by courage, ambition, hard work and resilience.
Born June 19, 1931, in Kinston, North Carolina, to well-traveled Navy parents, Bill spent much of his youth moving throughout the country before coming to Alameda, California, in 1945. Even as a young man, his larger-than-life personality was evident. He played football, sang in the Boys Glee Club, and participated in drama, including a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. Bill reportedly knew the entire score and could step into nearly any role when needed, earning him the fitting nickname “The Lord High Substitute.”
Bill graduated from high school at just 16 years old. While working his way through San Francisco City College, the Korean War began, and Bill joined the United States Army. He was accepted into Officer Candidate School and, at only 20 years old, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1952.
He was ordered to Korea, where he served as a documentation courier to Eighth Army Headquarters in Seoul and with several military commands during the war. His service ultimately took him to Panmunjom, where he worked with the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission and was assigned to the repatriation of prisoners of war. He left the Army as a First Lieutenant in 1953, having proudly and bravely served his country during one of the defining conflicts of his generation.
After returning home, Bill continued his education and graduated from San Jose State University in 1956 with a degree in real estate and insurance. Following a brief career in insurance, he entered the Los Angeles real estate business with little more than an old car, tremendous ambition, and, according to an early profile of him, $1.87 in capital. He made $27,000 his first year and never looked back.
Bill went on to become a successful real estate developer, builder, entrepreneur, and business owner, operating William H. Coffey & Associates as well as Jude Construction & Development. His work took him throughout California, and over the course of his life he contributed his talents, instincts, and determination to numerous businesses and developments.
But real estate was only one chapter.
Bill lived many lives within one, eventually finding his home in Monterey, California. He was a cowboy who owned a ranch in Oregon, a pilot who flew his own private airplanes in San Jose and Los Angeles, a businessman and entrepreneur, a veteran, and a lifelong adventurer. He was never afraid of hard work, taking risks, starting over, or pursuing whatever challenge came next.
Above all, Bill was a husband, father, and the patriarch of his family. He raised three children, Jennifer, Brad, and Greg, with his wife Christy, and leaves behind a family forever shaped by his strength and larger-than-life presence.
Bill and Christina Marie “Christy” Coffey shared a life together for many years, beginning seven years before they were officially married in 1985. They remained married until 2010, and although their marriage eventually ended in divorce, the friendship and affection they shared endured. Christina remained an important part of Bill’s life, and the two remained friends until the day he died - a true testament to the lasting bond they built over more than three decades together.
Bill was a man who dominated a room simply by entering it. He was full of spirit, stories, humor, determination, and an unmistakable zest for life. There was very little about him that was quiet or ordinary. Even through the challenges of his later years, Bill’s extraordinary will to keep going remained evident.
A devout Christian, Bill went to be with Jesus in paradise in the early morning hours of October 2, surrounded by his children one last time. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of living life on his own terms. Bill will be deeply missed by his children, Jennifer, Bradford, and Gregory; Christy; his family and friends; and the many people whose lives he touched throughout his remarkable 95 years on earth. He will be laid to rest honorably at the Central Coast Veteran’s Cemetery in Seaside, California.
Dad never went anywhere without his wallet, phone, glasses, and a handful of toothpicks. Don’t worry, Dad, we’ve got ’em. And in his own loving words: “Bye for now.”