William "Bill" Bjorness

William (Bill) Bjorness passed away last week at his home in Bradenton Florida at the age of 52. Born and raised in Deer Park, New York, Bill spent his days playing sports, supporting the N.Y. Islanders, Mets, and Jets with his family. After graduating from Canterbury School, he attended Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T) where he won a National Championship in hockey and was a three time all American in lacrosse. In 1999, he was inducted into the R.I.T. Athletics Hall of Fame.

Bill spent the next 30 years coaching lacrosse serving as a coach at Deer Park High School, Keuka College (1986-88), Hartwick College (89-91 and 99-2014), RIT (91-93) and Dartmouth (94-98). At the international level, he coached at the World Championships, and for the Iroquois National Team from 1994-2006. For the past two years, he served as the Sports Advisor for Lacrosse at IMG Academy.

Bill is predeceased by his parents, Edward and Patricia Bjorness. He was a loving father who is survived by his children, Adam and Addison Bjorness and sisters Dorothy Bjorness Long, Barbara Bjorness Tyburczy and Trish Bjorness Gallagher.

A memorial service will be held at the Boyd- Caratozzolo Funeral home in Deer Park, N.Y. on August 13, from 2:00 – 4:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, arrangements are being made to accept donations to lacrosse programs at R.I.T. or IMG academy in Bill’s memory. http://www.ritathletics.com/news/2016/7/25/general-rit-athletics-mourns-the-loss-of-former-two-sport-star-hall-of-famer-bill-bjorness.aspx#.V5e0Qqz_OUI.email or to Hartwick's men's lacrosse team. To make a gift, contact Duncan McDonald at macdonaldd@hartwick.edu or 607-431-4032.