Van Rosendael, Bill
SEATTLE, Wash. — Bill Van Rosendael, our brother and our friend, died on July 19, 2021, in Seattle,Wash. Bill bravely underwent heart transplant surgery on his 65th birthday, July13, but sadly passed away six days later with his brother Pete at his side.
Bill worked with Pete at House of Records/Turntable Treasures in Tacoma for over 25 years. He loved the music and attended numerous concerts up and down the West Coast through the years (and remembered each one as if it was yesterday). Bill had a lot of great adventures over the years. He was an accomplished mountaineer on both the East and West Coasts. He climbed in the Cascades, the Grand Tetons, and the Rockies, reaching the summit of both Mount Rainier and Mount Hood. He was an ADK 46er, climbing the major 46 peaks in the Adirondacks, and summited Mount Adams and Long Peak as well as many others. Bill also loved to play tennis, ski, hike, bicycle, golf and generally any other activity that involved challenging himself in the great outdoors. Bill was also an amazing photographer, a talent he inherited from his grandfather. He was a skilled artist, with a keen eye and an instinctive ability to see the best shot possible. The photos from his mountaineering and hiking expeditions are absolutely stunning and we’re lucky to have hundreds and hundreds of his pictures to enjoy for many years to come. While Bill’s family and his many, many, friends may remember him as an avid, accomplished outdoorsman, he will be remembered above all else as a kind, generous and humble man. He would happily share his only dollar with anyone who needed it. He regularly reached out to family and old friends and was the bond that kept those relationships strong and meaningful. Bill was a real extrovert; he loved meeting new people and made friends wherever he went. He had an unending curiosity and was always reading and learning about any subject that interested him at the moment. We could go on and on about all of Bill’s unique and endearing qualities, but those who knew him can call to mind their own memories of why he was so special.
Bill will be deeply missed by his loving brothers and sisters: Pete (Chinny) of Tacoma, Wash., Tom (Kathy) of Hollis, Mains, Lisa (Sam) of Brewster, Mass., Mike (Tracy) of Charlton, and Therese (Bill) of Newtonville. He also leaves his nephews, Tom, Min, Alan, and Tim; and niece Jennifer; along with a boatload of friends, notably his childhood pals, Dan, Joe, and Bill.
Local funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date. Please consider making a donation in Bill’s memory to ADK, a non-profit organization that works to increase access to the backcountry of the Adirondacks by maintaining trails and conserving natural areas throughout the region. Bill would be thrilled to know that the beauty of the Adirondacks will be preserved and remain accessible to other hikers and climbers. Donations may be sent to: ADK, 814 Goggins Rd, Lake George, NY, 12845, or by going to www.adk.org/ support/donate.
Rest in peace, brother Bill. You’re always in our hearts and will be forever missed.