Obituary of William F, Hildebrand

William F. Hildebrand, 75, of New Rochelle, NY, passed away at home on January 14, 2025. He is survived by his brothers Steve (Bobbe) and Kim (Jennifer), nephew Rob, and nieces Annie, Lisa and Allie. 

Bill was born on August 5, 1949, in West Bend, WI, to Myron and Mary Jane Hildebrand. A dedicatedstudent, he was co-valedictorian of West Bend High School’s Class of 1967. He went on to earn a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in 1971 and later completed an MBA at Harvard Business School in 1976.

Bill began his career as a Certified Public Accountant, working in accounting, auditing, and financial
control roles for various companies in Chicago and later in Washington, D.C.  In 1992, he moved to New Rochelle, NY, to join the Woodlawn Foundation as a computer programmer. Beginning in 2003, he worked for the headquarters of Opus Dei in New York as a programmer and events planner. He had a flare for writing and helped with editing articles for the Opus Dei website.

An avid reader with a knack for numbers and puzzles, Bill was also a passionate sports fan. He enjoyed organizing competitions—most notably his legendary “March Madness” contests—and took advantage of his sports knowledge to create ways to inject a happy interlude into people’s day.

In his thirties, Bill successfully overcame pituitary cancer, though it left him with ongoing health challenges that he faced with quiet fortitude and calm acceptance.  Humble and straightforward, he had a deep Catholic faith. He was well-loved, and his sense of humor was greatly appreciated by all who knew him. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 22, from 9:00–10:00 am at Murray Hill Place, 139 East 34th St., New York, NY.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Murray Hill Place on Wednesday, January 22 at 10:00 a.m. The burial will take place immediately after the Mass at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 10 W. Stevens Ave, Hawthorne, NY 10532.