William John Daley

Bill was the son of Claire James and Belle (Rudnick) Daley, born in Los Angeles and raised in Southern California. The Daley family moved to Palmdale, CA in the early 50's. Bill graduated from Antelope Valley High School in 1956, married young, had four children and lived in the Lancaster area. The marriage did not last. He met and married his second wife in the mid 60's who had two young children about the same ages as his own children.
Moving often to find employment, the Daley's ended up in Topanga Canyon, Calif. with Bill beginning his career path in bio-medical (electrical) engineering at a UCLA research lab. His job was working on creating interfaces to monitor the physical condition of small primates that were being sent up into space.  Over the next several years he volunteered with the Los Angeles Zoo integrating electrical monitoring for the health of the exotic animals.  All the while, continuing his work in the research departments of UCLA and then, Cedars Sinai Medical Center. 1970-71 brought an opportunity to spend a year on Lummi Island, where he was involved in a project with the Lummi tribe developing a water quality testing system for an aquaculture program. Though the Daley's had to move in the spring of 1971 back to southern Calif, they continued to stay connected over the ensuing years. Returning often to Lummi to visit and spend time with friends.
In 1977, Bill began consulting for Westlake Hospital in Westlake, CA. In 1980, he incorporated as Daley & Assoc. which designed and supplied computer based emergency communication systems to hospitals as well as city/county-wide regions across the entire country. Clients included Los Angeles County, CA; New Orleans, LA and Boston, Massachusetts. At the time, he developed cutting edge equipment that no one else had even thought of! He could analyze in 3-D and visualize the problem, developing a solution, even as he was still on the phone to the client! As a side project he collaborated on the development of the SwansGath catheter.
Bill and his current wife, Ginny Winfield semi-retired to Lummi Island, WA in 2008. Living in the Isle Aire Beach subdivision, he served about fifteen years as a board member with the homeowners association. He was also a board member for over a decade with the Lummi Island Community Association (LICA). In their own words, LICA has been a living, ever-evolving coalition of community-loving and community-serving denizens of Lummi Island since it's inception in 1982. Working with the Lummi Island Fire Dept. he and Ginny were instrumental in mapping their neighborhood for emergency preparedness. Bill greatly enjoyed community Island gatherings at the Grange and the Lummi Island Congregational Church. He always relished his time spent in nature and Lummi Island was truly his heart center.
While working was always a major focus of Bill's life (he was never without his cell phone and tablet, ready to deal with a downed system) he was always able to take time to help out friends, family, children and grandchildren with his many contacts for healthcare and support. His long-standing bio-medical experience enabled him to look at a problem from entirely different angles Thinking outside the box and then enlisting assistance from his many medical resources.
He was a warm, kind-hearted, fun-loving man who enjoyed the peace and serenity he found with friends and family. His warm laugh made him a joy to be around.
Bill leaves behind a host of family, he is survived by 2 sisters, 7 children,  22 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews) and friends who shall miss him greatly for his wry humor and creative intellect.
Please consider making a donation to your favorite charity or Lummi Island Community Association, P.O. Box 163, Lummi Island, WA 98262-0163
Celebration of Life to be held 2024 (spring or early summer?) on Lummi Island. Please email dragonlady@nuwworld.com to be notified.