William F. “Bill” Dowd of Long Branch died peacefully April 21. Born Nov. 11, 1943, Bill graduated from Our Lady Star of the Sea, Red Bank Catholic, Seton Hall University and Rutgers Law School. At “the Hall,” Bill was voted “1966 Man of the Year,” president of his senior class and captain of the Ulysses A. Bramson Debating Team. He was instrumental in William F. Buckley Jr.’s decision to give the Seton Hall commencement address in 1966. They maintained a close friendship for four decades. Bill also represented Rutgers Law School in the National Moot Court Contest.

He was a member of the N.J. and N.Y. State Bar Associations, and clerked for Judge Coleman and Sen. Stout. Bill went on to serve as assistant to U.S. Treasury Secretary David Kennedy, and wrote speeches as a staff assistant in the Nixon White House. He was the Republican candidate for Congress in 1970 and 1972, and Parliamentarian of the N.J. State Assembly, where he served two terms (1978-1981). He was Monmouth County Republican Chairman for 18 years (1986-2004).

Bill was an aficionado of German Shepherd dogs, especially his beloved “Max.” He considered himself a “classical music nut,” and could often be spotted at Carnegie Hall events. He described his travels to the old Soviet Union for the U.S. State Department as “bleak,” but loved visiting Ireland, where his parents were born.

Bill is survived by siblings Jim Dowd of Dallas, Emily Dowd Tomaine of Oceanport, and Charles and sister-in-law Susan Dowd of Fair Haven. Also surviving are nieces Mary Bridget Tomaine Marra, Kathleen Tomaine Foderaro, Jennifer Tomaine Leuin, Lady Noelle Dowd Leitch of London and Dr. Bridget Dowd of New York; and nephew Hector Andre Dowd of Dallas. Grandnieces and grandnephews Alex, Lauren, Brian, Erin, Sarah, Emma, Griffin, Kathleen and Alexander also survive.

Visitation Thursday, April 26th, 5 to 7 pm, at the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Home, 10 Morrell Street, Long Branch. Mass of Christian burial, Friday, April 27th, 10 am at Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Church, Second and Chelsea Avenue. In lieu of customary remembrances, Bill’s family asks that contributions in his memory be made to Leon Hess Cancer Center, at Monmouth Medical Center, C/O MMC Foundation, 300 Second Avenue, Long Branch, NJ 07740. To share a favorite memory of Bill or messages of condolence please visit his page of tributes at www.woolleyboglioli.com