William G. Long, Jr. (Bill) was born in Seattle on December 24, 1927 to Judge William G. Long, Sr. and Maude Long. He spent his childhood in West Seattle along with his brother Alva, and sisters, Louise and Marion, all deceased.
Bill graduated from West Seattle High School and earned three degrees from the University of Washington: a bachelor's degree, a masters in public administration, and a law degree. Bill's career included a variety of positions. He served as director of both Rainier Vista and Yesler Terrace for the Seattle Housing Authority, worked for the Social Security Administration, and practiced law as a public defender and in private practice.
In 1954 Bill married Eileen Bigelow and enjoyed 60 years of a loving relationship, which was, and is, much blessed with daughter Cynthia and son Michael, Mike's wife Frederique and their son, Mathieu. Bill's extended family includes nieces Naomi Paulin, Anita Jackson and nephew Jon Parry.
Bill and Eileen joined University Friends Meeting in 1974 after attending for a few years. In his letter requesting membership Bill said, "the fellowship of the meeting has provided a kaleidoscope of objective thought and feelings to which I would like to contribute." Bill proceeded to contribute in many ways, large and small. Bill's ready smile brought warmth to the community; his hands-on contributions kept the grass mowed and shrubbery trimmed. He served many years on the buildings and grounds committee, several stints on nominating committee, and was an active member of a long-enduring men's group at UFM. Bill is especially remembered as a man who preached with his life and sought to do good in the world with every tool he had available, whether a law degree or a lawn mower.
Bill loved the outdoors, his trombone, his musical community, and his many friends. He played his trombone from high school days until the last years of his life. He was a member of the first Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, then called, Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Pacific Northwest. Throughout Bill's life he played in numerous community symphonies, classical orchestras and swing bands. Bill was active in the Sierra Club, the Mountaineers, and many environmental causes. He valued his Quaker community and especially his Quaker care committee which was by his side during his final years.
Bill's many friends remember and were fond of his habit of wearing brightly colored, miss-matched socks. He did this to honor the memory of his flamboyant older brother, Alva, who died in 1994.
Bill died peacefully in the early morning on July 15th, 2014
A memorial to celebrate Bill's life was held at the University Friends Meeting on September 7, 2014. He was remembered as a good man with a lot of personal integrity, a fine sense of humor, and the capacity to reach out to others and offer his help.