Bill Bannon was born on May 9, 1949 at the Jersey City Medical Center to Marie Finlayson Bannon and William Bannon. He was the second born child . His sister Marie was the first born. The Bannon’s enriched their family with siblings Monica, Eileen, Betty Anne, and Alex. It was quite a household filled with the joy of beautiful children and the hum of voices filled with humor and the comedy of every day life in Cresskill, New Jersey in the home of a lawyer/judge dad and child vaudeville star mom from Philadelphia high society.

Bill was possessor of the most beautiful face, the wryest humor and kindness of spirit. He was no angel of course and had his flirtation with devilish moments including tying his sister Eileen up in the basement with the help of his sister Marie.

He was an altar boy and went to Catholic Schools in Bergen County where he met his best friends Johnny Livornese and Tom Gorman who he remained friends with for his entire life.

He went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for a brief 6 months where he was given a hard time over his hippie hair and politics and then came back to Jersey City State College to get his degree in English/Media in 1972.

At Jersey City State College he met the love of his life, Barbara Beeman in 1970. Bill had gotten his guitar when he was 15 years old and he charmed Barbara with his guitar playing and they started on the road to be musicians together playing Incredible String Band, Jim Kweskin, Bob Dylan songs in Vodra Lounge at the college.

After college, Bill went to apply for work and started his 40 year career at Hudson County Social Services where he worked as IM Technician, Social Worker and subsequently Supervisor of the Intake Department and later Supervisor in Child Support Services. Barbara worked alongside him in the Social Services Department of Welfare.

All through the 40 years at welfare, Bill & Barbara played music together at various venues (Folk City, the Bitter End, Cafe Wha, the Dugout in NYC and Maxwell’s, the Shannon Tavern, the Brass Rail, the Hoboken River festivals in Hoboken. And in the last 15 years played in Nick Ciavatta’s Friggin Fabulous Music showcases & events at the Corkscrew, FM Tavern, White Eagle Hall along with performing music for the Music on Broadway series in Bayonne. Performing live music was the most important thing in his life and he had many fans for his finger-picking and old time blues playing,

Bill is survived by his significant of 56 years Barbara Beeman and sisters Betty Anne Bannon & Eileen Trost (spouse Larry) and Alex Bannon(spouse MaryLu) and Larry Gugenheim, brother-in-law. He has many nephews of nieces including Jayne Jacobs, William Gugenheim, Larry Trost Jr., Will Trost, Tim Trost, Nicole Bannon & Liam Bannon. And great uncle for Cole Jacobs, Charlotte Jacobs and Liam Trost.

A visitation and celebration of Bill's life will take place on Thursday May 21st from 4-8PM at Migliaccio Funeral Home, 851 Kennedy Blvd. (at 33rd St.) in Bayonne.  Bill will then be laid to rest on Friday May 22nd at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington at 11AM, with all welcome to gather at the funeral home starting at (AM for a 10AM departure to the cemetery.