Cover photo for William "Bill" J. O'Toole's Obituary
William "Bill" J. O'Toole Profile Photo

William "Bill" J. O'Toole

December 9, 1938 — July 23, 2023

O’TOOLE, WILLIAM JAMES, “BILL”, 84, of Allendale, NJ, passed away peacefully at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ on July 23, 2023. Bill was born on December 9, 1938, at Englewood Hospital to his loving parents Anna & James. He married Janet Abbatecola on February 24, 1974. Janet and Bill settled in Allendale where they raised their “Hallmark Family”. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Janet, their children Matthew & Joanna O’Toole, Annie & Patrick Donovan, Katie & AJ Economou, Brian O’Toole & Lisa Burton O’Toole, and grandchildren Erin & Tara O’Toole, and Ashley & Kristina Economou, who all adored “Grandfather”. He is also survived by his sister Rita Quinn, Brother-in-Law Vincent Abbatecola (Bernadette), and several nieces and nephews. Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a wonderful friend to all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Bill grew up in the Bronx and joined the Navy after high school, serving as a Helmsman on the Aircraft Carrier USS Leyte, and later on the USS Roosevelt. After the Navy, he worked in construction until he joined Wausau Insurance as a Safety and Loss Control Specialist, later retiring from Selective Insurance. He achieved his Bachelors's from Fordham and his Master's Degree from New York University.

Bill was a man of many interests; he was a Bass Drummer with the New York Regimentals Fife and Drum Corps, a skilled skier, a voracious reader, an author, and an avid golfer who loved being out on the course so much that, after retirement, he became a part-time Ranger.

Most of Bill & Janet’s married life was spent in Allendale, a town that Bill dearly loved. Bill was a Life Member of the Allendale Holiday Observers, a service organization that he was incredibly proud to be a part of. When he wasn’t working or volunteering, he could be found remodeling everything around their home. When all of the work was finished on their first house, he and Janet packed up the family and moved next door to begin working on their forever home.

Friends and family will be received on Thursday, July 27 from 4 - 8 PM at Vander Platt Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 28 at 10:00 AM at The Church of the Presentation, 271 W Saddle River Rd, Upper Saddle River. Entombment to follow at Ascension Cemetery, Airmont, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s name are requested to the Allendale Holiday Observers. https://www.holidayobservers.org/donate OR mail checks to PO Box 317, Allendale, NJ 07401.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to John P.L. Manke with Manke Memorial and Vander Plaat Funeral Home, Wyckoff. Please visit Bill’s Tribute page at www.mankememorial.com or www.vpfh.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" J. O'Toole, please visit our flower store.

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Visitation

Thursday, July 27, 2023

4:00 - 8:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Vander Plaat Funeral Home

257 Godwin Avenue
Wyckoff, NJ 07481

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Funeral Mass

Friday, July 28, 2023

Starts at 10:00 am (Eastern time)

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