| Graduation Year | Class of 1977 |
| Date of Passing | Apr 15, 2014 |
| About | William Andrew Watson, also known as Bill or Andy, unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack on April 15 in Fairfield. Bill was born on June 8, 1959, at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., to Lorn and Mitsu (Takeuchi) Watson and traveled to Japan, Alabama, California and again to Illinois as a military kid. His father retired in California and Bill graduated in 1977 from Armijo High School in Fairfield with honors. In 1981, he graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing and international business from San Francisco State University. He was a computer programmer for Chevron and a buyer for Esprit, Mervyn’s, Macy’s, the Army Air Force Exchange System and the University of California Berkeley Student Union. He found a later calling to provide hospice care and eventually attained a nursing degree from San Francisco City College, then worked for Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley for six years on the inpatient psychiatric unit. He retired on disability in 2012. Bill was an avid reader with a large collection of books, generally about history and biographies. He thoroughly enjoyed watching classic and hot-off-the-reel movies on the big and small screen. He was also a faithful participant at the 24 Hour Fitness Center in Fairfield. He mostly enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, however, and felt no one was a stranger to engage in a lively discussion on just about any topic. He was an ardent supporter of the arts, equal protection rights and adequate resources for those living with mental illness. He found great strength through God and the life principles and fellow members of several Bay Area Twelve Step Programs since 1989. He had a big giving heart and showed deep compassion and love to all who had the privilege of knowing him and will be greatly missed by those he left behind. Bill is survived by his parents who live in Fairfield; sisters, Sherry Watson of Davis, Calif., and Debbie Rios of Fairfield; brother, Vic (Lisa) Watson of Elk Grove, Calif.; nephew, Evan; and 10 nieces, Sarah, Nikki, Stephanie, Katie, Amanda, Haley, Tiara, Ally, Amber and Cassidy, whose accomplishments made him very proud; great-nephews, Solomon, Javeon and Brody; great-nieces, Alivia, Leah, Maycee and Ava; and uncles; aunts and cousins in Kentucky and Japan. |
