J. William Reeves

J. William "Bill" Reeves, age 87, of Rochester, NY, died May 27, 2019, after a long illness.

Bill was born in the city's 10th Ward on May 6, 1932. He was the only son of Arthur and Mae (Deegan) Reeves. He married Gail Spencer Berry, August 2, 1958, in Rochester, NY.

The verse "from little acorns, the mighty oaks grew," is used often to describe the course at Oak Hill Country Club, where Bill was a member for 70 years. These words might also describe Bill himself. With a calm yet strong character, he was as steadfast, honorable and fiercely loyal in his career as a corporate lawyer as he was as a family man and friend.

Bill was chairman of Oak Hill's Hill of Fame, a post he held for 31 years until 2017. Last year, he became an honoree himself, one of only two club members to receive the honor. The rest are among the greats of the game: Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, to name just a few. As chairman, Bill oversaw the inductions of 19 Hill of Fame honorees, including Byron Nelson, the European Ryder Cup Team, Donald Ross, Craig Harmon and Curtis Strange, among others.

An honorary member of the club, Bill was the longest-standing member of Oak Hill, having joined as a teenager in 1949. He served as president from 1974-1975. He received the John R. Williams Order of Merit in 1987.

As much as Bill loved golf, it was but one of his many passionate pursuits. He was a charter member of Hunt Hollow Ski Club and a long-time season pass holder at Bristol Mountain. An avid sailor, Bill was a member of the Sodus Bay Yacht Club. He also had an enduring passion for sportscars and was one of the first presidents of the MG Car Club of Western NY, which he helped to found in 1957. A lifelong student of jazz, Bill played saxophone in the University of Notre Dame Marching Band.

Bill was a partner in the law firm of Mousaw, Vigdor, Reeves, Heilbronner & Kroll for over 35 years. He joined Boylan Code in 1995. He was a member of the Monroe County, New York State and American Bar Associations. He was co-founder of the Securities Law Forum (now the Corporate, Banking and Business Law Section) of the Monroe County Bar Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the High Tech Business Council and focused much of his career on the growth of technology-based companies in the Greater Rochester Area. Bill received his J.D. from Cornell University Law School and graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame.

The plaque on Bill's oak tree on the Hill of Fame sums it up: "Beloved by all, the heart and soul of Oak Hill." And, to all who knew him, too.

Bill is survived by his wife Gail, his children Michael, Katherine (Sonnick) and Caroline (Hillyard), son-in-law Audie Hillyard, grandson Jesse Hillyard, brother-in-law Charles Berry and many cherished friends and relatives. Calling hours are Monday, June 3, 2-4pm & 6-8pm, at New Comer, 6 Empire Blvd., Rochester. Funeral Mass is Tuesday, June 4, 10:30am, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 296 Flower City Park, Rochester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nazareth Schools , 311 Flower City Park, Rochester, NY 14615.