John (“Jack”) Bernard Williams, III passed away peacefully on January 2, 2023, with his devoted wife of 56 years, Roberta, and loving daughters Jennifer and Jessica by his side.
Jack was born on July 16, 1942, in Mare Island, California, the son of a Navy family, and traveled extensively as a young child, living in Florida, Japan, and Hawaii, before attending the University of Nevada, Reno, where he met Roberta Porterfield.
Jack graduated from St. Martin’s College in Olympia, Washington, with a degree in civil engineering.
Jack was a well-respected Civil and Registered Professional Engineer (PE) and had a successful 40-year career in the construction industry working for Teichert Construction in Nevada and Northern California.
His Teichert family remained close to Jack until his passing. Jack also loved to farm, and managed the family farm in Lovelock, Nevada, for many years, experiencing great enjoyment toiling in the peaceful desert land surrounded by beautiful mountains in Pershing County.
Jack was a devoted father and loved his family very much.
He was a coach to his children when they were young, and took great pride watching his namesake and grandson, Jack, sail along the North Shore of Tahoe, and his granddaughter, Samantha, excel in softball and volleyball.
Jack served on the St. Anne’s Elementary School Board. Education was important to Jack, and he was very proud of the legal careers in public service that his daughters chose, serving others in need – a result in part from the Jesuit values Jack instilled in them growing up.
Jack faced numerous health challenges in his life, and handled them all with determination and grit.
He never complained about these limitations; he was a humble, honorable man, and a lesson to all of us in integrity, compassion, and strength.
His greatest love was his wife, Roberta, a registered nurse by training, who never left his side and supported him through all of the challenges he faced. They handled them all together, with grace, and because of that partnership Jack maintained a great life until his passing.
Jack is survived by his wife, Roberta; his children Jennifer, Jessica, and Patrick; his son-in-law Bassey and his grandchildren, Jack and Samantha; his sister Sharon Aldrich and brother, Captain Harold Williams (Mary Martin), USN, Ret., and many cousins and family members who he was close to growing up with in the western Nevada outdoors and Carmel Valley. He was preceded in death by his father, Captain John B. Williams, Jr., USN Ret., and his mother, Lois Aldrich Williams, who he was very close to, and who is holding him now in her arms.
Rest in peace, dad; you are free to dance with the angels now and we will always love you. A celebration of Jack’s life will be held in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Northern California Multiple Sclerosis Society, PO Box 54879, Los Angeles, CA 90054.
