William “Bill” Smith

William “Bill” Smith, age 62, of Kinnelon, NJ and formerly of Wayne, NJ, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, laughter, and a life lived to the fullest.

Born in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, Bill spent his early years in the Lowcountry of South Carolina while his father was serving in the U.S. Navy. He moved with his family back to Wayne, New Jersey, at the age of 10. Growing up in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, Bill developed a love for mechanics, boating, and a strong connection to the community that would shape much of his life.

Bill graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1980. Even as a teenager, he was already a true “jack of all trades” – and a master of most. Mechanically inclined from a young age, he could fix anything and had a special knack for engines, often building go-karts out of any engine lying around the neighborhood. There wasn’t an engine around that hadn’t been taken apart and put back together at least once. At a time when most teens were hanging out with friends, Bill commandeered the household “party line” to launch his first pool repair business. He was always on the phone doing business which made his sister, Marguerite, crazy!

That entrepreneurial spirit grew into North Jersey Pool and Spa, a business Bill proudly owned and operated for decades, serving countless pool and spa owners across northern New Jersey. It was only fitting that Bill would find his place in the pool industry, given that his grandfather invented the vinyl pool liner – a family legacy that Bill proudly carried forward with skill, integrity, and tireless dedication.

But Bill was not all work; he believed in playing hard, too. A modern-day Ernest Hemmingway. Fitting since he loved getting out on the boat with friends for an action-packed day of fishing or just going out and enjoying being on the water. Live for today, not worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. When he wasn’t fishing, Bill loved snowmobiling, occasionally riding his motorcycle, playing darts, and skiing across Vermont, Colorado, and even the Italian Dolomites. He enjoyed traveling the world, beating the odds at the blackjack table, and sipping a good bourbon or beer at the end of a long day. His Ford Raptor pickup truck, which he enjoyed driving so much, served as his mobile office, and was always ready to take him on his next adventure or to the job site. That Raptor also served to notify the neighbors when he was leaving for work (7:30 AM sharp) every day. When the engine didn’t fire up, or the truck was missing, the neighbors noticed. Throughout his tough cancer battle, he continued to keep his strict work schedule - his grit and determination never wavering.

Bill loved spending time with his friends and always had their backs. Whether it was at the bowling alley, out on the water fishing, or sharing stories and laughter around the horseshoe pits by the beach, he was always surrounded by a circle of fun. His last wish was to get out on his boat and go fishing with his friends just one more time, a testament to the simple joys he cherished so dearly throughout his life.

Bill will be remembered for his unshakable work ethic, his mechanical genius, and the way he made everyone feel welcome in his presence (as long as you didn’t cross him!). His family, friends, and the countless people he helped over the years will deeply miss him and the unmistakable energy, hardy laugh, and competitive spirit he brought wherever he went.

Bill is survived by his sons Brandon Smith of Kinnelon and Brett Smith of Big Pine Key, Florida, his mother; Marguerite Smith of Big Pine Key, Florida, his former wife of more than thirty years; Tammy Smith, his brother-in-law; Curt Kabula, his niece; Maggie Kabula, his nephew; Trent Kabula, his soul sister; Tracy McCann, and his dear friends; Greg Fischer, Steve Nebesni, Bob Giancaterino, Sheldon Frankel, Jerry Lange and Betania Lesko. He was predeceased by his father, Craig, in 2021 and by his sister, Marguerite Kabula in 2024.