William "Bill" James Rerucha

William Rerucha, known to family and friends as Bill, was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. He was an accomplished water skier who won multiple tournaments and once held the boys jumping distance record in the state of Michigan. He moved to Winter Haven in 1960 from Toledo to fulfill his dream to become a professional skier at Cypress Gardens where he remained throughout the 1960s.

After skiing, he started a successful career in sales: first in automobiles and then in what would become his specialty, advertising. He retired from the Orlando Sentinel as an advertising sales manager in 2010.

Bill was quite the promoter too. He owned and operated the Mrs. Florida Pageant, The Florida Mother/Daughter Pageant, and the Beauties of America pageant. Bill spent his pageant years alongside his first wife Pinky, whom he met while working at Cypress Gardens. Bill and Pinky had two sons: William II (Billy) and Timothy. As a family, they enjoyed many days waterskiing on Lake Winterset. Sunday was family and friends day and you would always find Bill enjoying the outdoors, boating, grilling, and working on his landscaping. Bill welcomed anyone who pulled up on the beach to join in on the fun.

In 1995, Bill married his lifelong friend, Tish. They continued in marriage until his recent passing. Bill and Tish loved living in the Saddlebag Lake retirement community where they boated, played golf and tennis, fished, and hosted many family and friends over the years. They truly enjoyed every day of their retirement together.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Thelma, Margaret, and John Rerucha; siblings: Bernard Rerucha, Jack Rerucha, and Duke Reilly. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Rerucha of Lake Wales, Florida; children: William Rerucha II (Stephanie) of Winter Haven, Florida, Timothy Rerucha of Hamilton, New Jersey, Tracey Bennett of Davenport, Florida, and Scott O’Brien (Angie) of Toledo, Ohio; siblings: Bobby Rerucha of Toledo, Ohio, Joanne Ling of The Villages, Florida, Kathleen Bruss of Toledo, Ohio, and Patsy Brandel of Toledo, Ohio; grandsons, William Rerucha III, Kyle Bennett, and Nick Richmond; and granddaughters, Sierra Rerucha and Madison O’Brien.

A Memorial Mass for family and friends in Ohio will be held on Saturday, March 26th, at 1 p.m. at St John the XXIII Church in Toledo, Ohio, with Father Herb Weber presiding. A Memorial Mass for family and friends in Florida will be held on Sunday, March 27th, at 8 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Wales, Florida. There will also be a ski show dedicated to Bill performed by the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team on Saturday May 21st at MLK Park on Lake Silver in Winter Haven, Florida. In lieu of flowers please make your donation with a check payable to the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, PO Box 2691 Winter Haven, FL 33883.