Obituary of William Smyj

William / Bill Smyj was born to Andrew and Adeline Smyj and they were long time residence of Yonkers. Bill is survived by 3 sons Larry (June) Smyj 64 of Montvale NJ Brian (Stephanie) Smyj 62 of Wyckoff NJ Matthew Smyj 55 of Vallejo CA and one granddaughter Anna. Andrew owned a barbershop on 136 Riverdale Ave and Bill started of learning to shine shoes and later cut hair. He would cut hair next to his father or in San Francisco for some 30 years. Bill seeking adventure at age 13 decided to get on a train with 2 friends and go to California. Upon arriving in San Francisco Bill and his 2 friends got a job in a restaurant busing tables and washing dishes they lived with one of his traveler's older sister until they could get their own place. Bill returned to Yonkers after serving in WWII and meet Mary Ann Mcloughlin of Cedar St. They moved to San Francisco and had their first child Lawrence. Missing their roots in Yonkers the moved back and that is when they had their second son Brian. The family would stay in Yonkers until their 3rd son Matthew was 6 and then back to San Francisco. It turned out that Bill really did leave his heart in San Francisco when Bill and Mary Ann separated Bill moved back to San Francisco and went to work for the department of the navy as a machinist. Studying and taking any test he could to further himself Bill would move up the ranks over a 40-year career to become a Supervisor surveying ships. Bill moved from San Francisco to Vallejo CA where he would live until his passing at age 92. Bill was a little younger than the greatest generation but always live with and carried himself with the same honor dignity and grace. The one thing Bill always said was "Be fair to everyone, you won't be able to but at least try" Larry Smyj owns a successful home inspection company in NY and NJ Brian has been a Stuntman and Stunt Coordinator for over 30 years and threw his career working on TV and movies in Yonkers and Matthew has been working for a Visual Fx company Tippet studios in Berkley CA. for over 20 plus years.