Bombeck ‘was the perfect match for my mom,’ son says
Educator was a foil for his famous wife’s syndicated columns.
Bill Bombeck — Dayton-born educator and widower of beloved humorist Erma Bombeck — died Friday in Phoenix, Ariz., following a bout with pneumonia. He was 90.
“He was such a wonderful man, so unbelievably giving and so fair,” said his son, Andy Bombeck. “He was the perfect match for my mom.”
“He was just the sweetest guy, and he always did the right thing,” said his daughter, Betsy Bombeck. “I don’t think I knew anybody inmy life more thoughtful, more kind than he was.”
Erma transformed the family’s foibles and adventures into the poetry of everyday life, with her husband and children serving as the good-natured foil for much of her humor. At the height of her popularity, 900newspapers syndicated her column to an audience of 30 million readers.
Bombeck never anticipated such worldwide fame when he married Erma Fiste at the Church of the Resurrection in Dayton in1949. He served as a Dayton teacher, principal and administrator from 1950 until 1971.
It was, in many ways, a typical suburban life. The Bombecks raised their three children in a ranch house at 162 Cushwa Drive in Centerville. In 2015 the home was named to the National Register of Historic Places – much to the family’s pride and amusement.
Bill Bombeck was born in Dayton March 19, 1927, to Veronica and William Bombeck. Bombeck grad- uated from St. Anthony Grade School and Chaminade High School. He met his future wife while working as a copy boy for the Dayton Journal; Erma was a copy girl for the Dayton Herald. They began dating seriously when Bombeck returned from his service in World War II and both attended the University of Dayton. ( Erma graduated in 1949, Bill in 1950.)
The couple moved to Arizona in 1971, but they never forgot their roots — or their close lifelong friends — in Dayton. “Success never changed them,” friends often said. “They never changed.”
After themove to Arizona, Bill Bombeck focused on managing the Bombeck family’s business affairs. Erma appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America from1975 until 1986, recording commentaries and interviews from her new home in Arizona.
Her last column appeared April 17, 1996 — five days before her death following complications from a kidney transplant.
Bombeck paid tribute to his wife in the 1996 “Forever, Erma,” a collection of her best-loved columns. Throughout her long illness, Erma remained “unbelievably optimistic,” Bombeck wrote. “I have met astronauts, war heroes, firefighters and police officers, but I have nevermet anyone with more courage than Erma.”
Teri Rizvi, UD’s executive director of strategic communications, forged a friendship with Bombeck when she founded the Erma B om beck Workshop in 2000. “Bill was a gentleman filled with warmth and wonderful sense of humor,” she said. “I cherished his friendship.”
Bombeck is survived by daughter Betsy of Phoenix, who is working in the counseling fifield; son Andy, also of Phoenix, his wife Shari and their son Michael, 11; and son Matt, of Los Angeles, his wife Jackie and daughter Eva, 21.
Bombeck will be buried alongside Erma at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. Arrangements are pending for memorial services in Arizona and Dayton.
“He loved us all, but he was ready to see my mom,” Betsy said.
A few days before B om beck died, the family gathered at his home in Carefree, Ariz.
“I really love everybody here, but I want to see the other people,” Bombeck said.
“Whom do you want to see?” someone asked.
He hesitated before asking, “Do you think I’ll get to see Erma?”
“Defifinitely,” replied his daughter-in-law, Jackie.
“Good night , then,” Bombeck said, before heading offff to bed with a smile.