William Joseph Bosco: Musician, Winemaker, Community Volunteer, and So Much More

This section includes both obituaries and memories. Honoring our loved ones who have died does not end immediately after their passing. We recognize that… so we’re extending our obituary section to include individuals who may have left a long time ago. If you want to remember someone who is gone, either recently or longer ago, please send a photo and your memories to [email protected].

William Joseph Bosco

January 4^th, 1945- October 30^th, 2020

William Joseph Bosco was born on January 4^th, 1945 in New Albany Indiana to Joe and Alice Bosco.  His mother’s family lived in Indiana and his father’s lived in Louisville Kentucky, right across the river.  Alice’s family were Belgian/German/French and mostly farmers.  Joe’s family were recent immigrants from Sicily, Italy.  One of 9 brothers and 1 sister, all of whom were born in Sicily, Joe was the youngest and only sibling born in the United States.  Joe had many professions throughout his life including a Barber, a Sign Painter, and even a short stint as a Police Officer.  Alice was a mother and homemaker, and both her and Joe were devout Catholics.  Alice called Willie “Bill” all his life because she said that “people call their children Billy or Jimmy or Jonny and then it’s hard to transition to Bill, Jim, or John, when they grew up.”

Willie was the middle child, sandwiched between two sisters.  Barbara, older, and Therese, younger, were often tormented by their brother as a child.  According to Barbara, Willie was shown special treatment as a boy and had to do less chores than them.  He spent his free time engrossed in hobbies, many of which he would remain interested in throughout his life.  Whether in the basement of their two story house or running through the small town of New Albany, Willie could be found building model airplanes, fishing, raising birds, gardening, or playing music.  Life wasn’t all play though, he also held various jobs as a child.  Him and his sister Barbara both worked for their neighbor across the alley, Alice Popp, who had a potato chip factory in her garage.  They stapled potato bags shut, and among other tasks, Willie had to sit in her basement and rub the eyes off of huge mounds of potatoes.  The worst part about it though, was because Mrs. Popp had the potato chip factory and another neighbor, the Mullers, owned CJ’s Soda Company, the whole family was banned by loyalty from buying Lays chips or Coca Cola.  When Willie got older, he worked at Walnut Ridge garden center as well as on his grandfather’s farm.

Though his paternal grandparents died before he was born, he was raised closely with his maternal grandparents, Will and Ella Schmidt, from whom he received his name.  His grandfather, whom he called Pop, grew grapes and made wine, an endeavor which Willie would take up later in life.  Pop taught Willie about fishing, making wine, farming, and many other things.  Willie recalled time spent with his Pop fondly and with great nostalgia for his youth.

He attended St. Mary’s grade School and Our Lady of Providence High School and served as an altar boy to the church.  Though his family’s life centered around the liturgical calendar, his influences weren’t all religious.  His spent time with his Sicilian uncles who operated various illicit businesses in the back rooms of their shops like gambling, horse betting, and even a weed speakeasy!  His father was an avid golfer, and though he didn’t show much interest as a child, he took an interest later in life and would regularly golf at the courses in Shelter Cove and Benbow with friends Joe Collins and Mykal Cuelho.

Willie graduated high school in 1963 and went on to attend Indiana University, where he studied Botany for five years.  He left the university without graduating, but his love for the study of plants never diminished.  To avoid the Vietnam draft, he adopted an extreme hippie appearance, much to the chagrin and embarrassment of his parents.  He stayed in the Bloomington area and joined a commune in Beanblossom.  He soon met Susan Murray, who would become his first wife and with whom he would have many adventures.

Together Susan and Willie traveled to San Francisco, where they lived on Haight Street and Willie worked as a gardener in Golden Gate Park.  Their first child, Beth, was born in 1970 and when she was 1 year old, they traveled with her to India!  They later traveled to Mexico and Hawaii, hitchhiking and camping along the way.  Their adventures were also spiritual, becoming “Moonies” for a while (followers of Sun Myung Moon), visiting ashrams in India, and living together on a commune in Needmore, Indiana, where Willie farmed soybeans and corn and worked in a local woodshop.  It was there, in 1975, where their second child, Vito, was born.

Willie and Susan separated in 1978 and he drove all the way out to Humboldt County, CA to help Mark Bartholomy, an old friend, build his home in Briceland.  There, he met Rosie (who was Susan Rosenblum at the time, but later changed her name to Rosie) and in the spring of 1980 they were married (May 6^th).  Their daughter Laura was born in 1981 and Ruth in 1983.

Willie and Rosie worked the land, planting orchards, gardens, and a vineyard.  In the 80s and 90s, Willie made furniture and turned wood into art and home goods that he sold at craft fairs and galleries throughout California and the Western States.  When a long battle with Lyme disease left him unable to continue his craft, he built a new business collecting and refurbishing record players.  He invented and manufactured parts that were needed to revive older models like a low-rider cartridge and an idler wheel for the RCA Victor Victrola 45 Player.

Willie and Rosie were both musicians and played in the Thursday Night String Band together.  They also played for many years for their church in Whitethorn.  Willie had quite a few bands throughout the years, including “Willie Bosco and his Honky Tonk Review,” and “The A-Train.” He built many instruments, including electric guitars, travel guitars, and lap steels.

Like many who live in this area, Willie participated in civic and community life.  He volunteered with the Beginnings Volunteer Fire Department, served on the Board of Directors for Community Cornerstone, drove for Meals on Wheels, played music for the Redwood Players Theater group, danced in the Nutcracker, sold produce at local stores and the farmer’s markets, and often brought needed supplies to seniors and local houseless people.

Willie prided himself on self invention and the ability to turn his hobbies into a livelihood.  He always worked for himself and pursued learning with passion.  In the last few years, he began making art out of found objects and sculpting abalone shells into jewelry.  During a visit with his Son’s family in Florida, he rekindled his love of fishing and had been spending two to three days a week at Shelter Cove, fishing from his favorite spot on the rocks. He would regularly bring home Snapper, Ling Cod, and Greenlings for dinner.  On Friday, October 30^th, he suffered a heart attack at Black Sand’s Beach while exploring a new fishing spot.  Though he was rescued by the Shelter Cove fire department volunteers and air lifted to Santa Rosa, he died later that day.  The fruits of his life will be cherished for years to come, from the towering Dawn Redwood that he planted at his childhood home to the Pinot Noir wine that he grew and produced on his land.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Rosie Bosco, daughters Beth Stubbs (Truette Stubbs), Laura Goff (Scott Goff), Ruth Bosco (Alex MacDonald), son Vito Bosco (Belinda Bosco), grandchildren True Stubbs, Angela Stubbs, Collin Tiexeira, Francesca Bosco, Hendrix Bosco, Kaylee Goff (Edgar Ledesma), Kaya Goff, Esther MacDonald, and great-grandchild Elena Ledesma.

He is also survived by his sisters Barbara Makinen (Jim Makinen) and, Therese Renn, nieces Kirsten Chewning (Dan Chewning), Laura Makinen (Marty Rocha), nephews Luke Renn, Aron Renn (Katy Renn), grand-niece Alice Chewning and grand-nephew Alex Renn.

Donations can be made in his name to:

Shelter Cove Volunteer Department

Briceland Volunteer Fire Department

Healy Senior Center

A socially distanced outdoor memorial for the community will be announced soon.