William Simon Light

BILL LIGHT Bill Light (born William Simon Light) died peacefully in his home on April 13, 2017. He was surrounded by his three children, Justine, Sarah and Matthew, and beloved dog Luna. Bill was born in Philadelphia, PA in November, 1940. He spent his childhood and college years in San Francisco, CA. He earned a civil engineering degree at Stanford University, where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He was a longtime member of the Dolphin Club in San Francisco, and continued friendships with his high school friends, fraternity brothers and swimming companions up until his death. Bill was passionate about social justice from an early age. In 1964 he traveled to Mississippi to work for the Civil Rights Movement and The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). While in Mississippi he met many of his dearest friends, as well as Diane Light whom he later married. Diane and Bill had two children Justine and Matthew. They later divorced and remained friends. After returning to San Francisco, Bill became a photographer and junior high school teacher at Presidio Hill School. In 1975 he met Laura Glicken and her daughter Sarah, who were his tenants at one of his homes in the Castro district of San Francisco. Bill and Laura fell in love and moved to Santa Fe in 1976, at which time Bill decided to pursue his love of woodworking. He deeply loved his career as well as his community. Bill was gregarious and outgoing and built a large group of friends around singing, nature, handball, meditation and social justice causes. Bill and Laura spent 42 years together and enjoyed traveling the world and creating a home and community in Santa Fe that they both deeply cherished. Laura died in 2008. Bill is already greatly missed and has left a void in our hearts that will be hard to fill. A private burial was held on April 14. A public celebration of life will be held on Saturday June 3 at 2 pm at Rivera Family Memorial Gardens Chapel of Light at 417 East Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, NM 87505


Yitgadal v'yitkadash sh'mei raba.
B'alma di v'ra chirutei,
v'yamlich malchutei,
b'chayeichon uv'yomeichon
uv'chayei d'chol beit Yisrael,
baagala uviz'man kariv. V'im'ru: Amen.

Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varach
l'alam ul'almei almaya.

Yitbarach v'yishtabach v'yitpaar
v'yitromam v'yitnasei,
v'yit'hadar v'yitaleh v'yit'halal
sh'mei d'kud'sha b'rich hu,
l'eila min kol birchata v'shirata,
tushb'chata v'nechemata,
daamiran b'alma. V'imru: Amen.

Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya,
v'chayim aleinu v'al kol Yisrael.
V'imru: Amen.

Oseh shalom bimromav,
Hu yaaseh shalom aleinu,
v'al kol Yisrael. V'imru: Amen.

Exalted and hallowed be God's great name
in the world which God created, according to plan.
May God's majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime
and the life of all Israel -- speedily, imminently, to which we say Amen.

Blessed be God's great name to all eternity.

Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded
be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing,
praise, and comfort. To which we say Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel,
to which we say Amen.

May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us and to all Israel.
To which we say Amen.