William “Bill” Edward Seely Jr., of Vero Beach, FL passed away on Saturday, July 30th, 2022, due to cancer and associated complications. Bill was born to Edith Klintrop Seely and William Edward Seely, Sr. on February 5th, 1943, in Morristown, NJ. He enjoyed childhood play with his close friends Robbie Doyle and Jerry Whitlock, along with his siblings. Bill attended the Peck School in Morristown, NJ, where he had the same third grade teacher that his father had years before. He went on to attend Madison High School, The Trinity Pawling School, Cardigan Mountain, and Upsala College.

He obtained the A.A.I certification while working at William E. Seely, Inc, an insurance agency started by his father in 1937. After purchasing the company from his father in the early 1980’s, Bill merged with O’Gorman and Young, Inc in Chatham, NJ in 1993. During Bill’s leadership, The Seely Insurance Agency saw significant growth. He retired to Vero Beach, FL in 2000.

He was endlessly grateful to his wife, Pat, his partner in work and home, for her steady and loving support. “He was always a gentleman,” recalls his wife, Patricia “Pat” Seely. Bill married Patricia Cadley at St. Vincent the Martyr Church in Madison, NJ on May 14th, 1966. Bill always viewed his greatest accomplishment to be the family he built with Pat. They had two children, Paige Seely Longstreth of East Greenville, Pa and Michael Robert Seely of Vero Beach, Fl, and two grandchildren, Joseph Cadley Longstreth and Miles Joseph Longstreth. Bill was an avid golfer, tennis player and skier. He was proud of having two hole- in- ones: one at Bent Pine Golf Club, and one at Hawk’s Nest Golf Club. His enthusiasm for sports and fitness was shared by his children. Bill bonded with Michael over his football games at Morristown Beard School and coached him in Little League baseball. He would join Paige for runs and kept track of his daughter’s running successes while taking great joy in cheering her on.

Pat, Michael and Paige remember fifty years of vacations on Martha’s Vineyard, skiing in Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, and Bill’s love for the family dogs, Senge, Guiness, and Bentley. Later in life, Bill embarked on golfing trips with Don Roberts, Randy Randolph, Dick Pumilla, Tom Mead, and many of his friends from Bent Pine Golf Club. In the midst of their adventures, Paige has warm memories of her parents simply sitting on the back patio of their home, enjoying each other’s company and conversation.

Bill was a lover of people at heart, and greatly valued his friendships and ties to communities in Morristown, NJ and Vero Beach, Fl. He served on the boards of Morristown Neighborhood House, Family Service of Morris County, the Rotary Club of Morristown, the Morris County Golf Club (he was particularly proud of the fact that his mother was the Women’s Morris County Golf Champion eleven times), and Bent Pine Golf Club in Vero Beach, FL. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, FL. In these organizations, as he was in all areas of his life, Bill was caring, giving and honest.

He is survived by spouse, Patricia “Pat” Seely; children, Paige Seely Longstreth and Michael Robert Seely, and grandchildren, Joseph Cadley Longstreth and Miles Joseph Longstreth, as well as by his three beloved siblings: Cynthia Seely Edgar of Pinehurst, NC, Judith Seely Peabody of Shelburne, VT, and Coert Horton Seely of Havre de Grace, MD. He took great interest in the accomplishments of his siblings, children, and grandchildren, and always wished the best for them.

A service is being planned to take place in fall 2022.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to VNA & Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 (vnatc.org) or Our Father’s Table Soup Kitchen, PO Box 6114, Vero Beach, FL 32961.

Thank you to the Presbyterian Church for all of their prayers, Sharonica “Ronnie” Wilson for her care and compassion, and all of Bill’s golfing friends who would pick him up for games.

Arrangements are under the direction of Millennium Cremation Service, Vero Beach. Condolences may be shared online at www.millenniumcremationservice.com.