William J. Dondero served in the military as a US Navy Machinist Mate Chief. He served during three tours in Vietnam supporting the Navy on ballistic nuclear submarines, destroyers and aircraft carriers. He was deployed with the Army, fighting in the Tet offensive, and was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon in one of the largest military campaigns of the Vietnam War.

A large part of Bill’s life was giving back to others. As the Bayville VFW Commander of Post 9503 from 2020-2024, he dreamed that the VFW would become a place where families could get together, celebrate, and have fun. He reached out to multiple organizations within the community and sponsored their efforts for development and growth.  Some of these organizations include the Boy Scouts Troop 9503, Girl Scouts Troops 278 and 427, Cub Scouts Pack 27, the Central Regional JROTC Cadets, and the Pine Barrens Modelers Remote Control Airplane Club. As the Bayville Commander, with support from his VFW Officers, Trustees, post members, US Marine Corp Det, and Auxiliary members, Bill was instrumental in the revitalization of VFW post 9503. Under his command, the VFW held Sunday monthly breakfasts, Easter Bunny breakfast, Memorial Day ceremony and lunch, annual pig roast, Halloween breakfast, memorial service for Veteran’s Day and lunch, Santa breakfast, and Crystal Lake Nursing Home Christmas dinner. VFW Post 9503 supported various community events such as Wreaths Across America, Wildwood VFW parade, Ocean Gate 4^th of July parade, as well as providing scholarship money to participants of Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen competitions.

Family was always the focus of everything that Bill did. His parents provided him with the moral compass and the values that guided him throughout his life. These values of hard work, perseverance, courage, honesty, and faith were instilled in him at a young age. His beloved sisters always held Bill accountable to this moral compass and shared values. Bill was proud of his niece and nephews and loved to keep them on their toes. Bill sadly leaves behind many friends and extended family.

Throughout his life and all of his adventures, his one constant joy has been his children and grandchildren, and his wife of 24 years. They were and always will be the greatest loves of his life.

Services will be held at the Holmdel funeral home in Holmdel NJ on 28 January 2024 (Sunday) from 12- 4pm. A Catholic mass will be at St Leo the Great church in Lincroft NJ on 29 January (Monday) at 10:15am, followed by internment at Holmdel Cemetery Mausoleum in Holmdel NJ.

In lieu of flowers, family requests a mass be offered in Bill’s name and memory.