An accomplished lawyer who was "beacon of kindness and generosity" has passed away, but where his light once shone, his community has started a fire.
More than $21,000 had been raised in less than 24 hours on a GoFundMe for the family of William "Bill" J. Zee, 50, who was born in New Jersey and had been living in Lititz.
A UPenn PhD candidate and former assistant dean at Rutgers University, and a beloved father, Bill was found dead in the PA Game Land located near US 322 and Pumping Station Road in Elizabeth Township, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Eric Bieber as Daily Voice previously reported.
Following a two-day missing person search, Zee was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:38 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, as Daily Voice reported at the time.
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Bill was a Camden, New Jersey native, who was a class of 1993 graduate of West Deptford High School. He went on to earn a BA in English literature in 1997 from Rutgers University, a Master’s of Education from the University of Pennsylvania the following year, and completed his JD at Villanova University in 2005. Bill completed his MBA from Harvard Business School Online in 2022, according to his social media and his obituary published on the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory's website.
Between finishing his first master's degree and starting his JD "He then taught at West Deptford High School, moved to Michigan where he was an Instructor at Eastern Michigan University and then returned to the East coast to serve as Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at Rutgers University," as stated in his obituary. He worked at Rutgers from 2000 to 2002, as explained on LinkedIn.
He was most known as a lawyer, recently working as a partner and attorney at Appel, Yost & Zee LLP, where he was rated 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer.
"Bill has represented public and private schools, intermediate units, higher education institutions, and community benefit organizations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the past 20 years," as stated in his biography on his law firm's website.
"A true servant leader," as stated in his obituary, Bill served on the boards of multiple organizations such as Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc., Touchstone Foundation: Youth Mental Wellness Partners, Aaron's Acres, and Leadership Lancaster.
Bill was "always eager to lend a helping hand to those in need. His involvement in the community touched countless lives, and his legacy of love and service will never be forgotten," as written in a GoFundMe launched to help his family.
He also volunteered as Treasurer Board of Directors for Lancaster Education Foundation and did pro bono legal work for Share of Lancaster, as detailed on his LinkedIn.
As stated in his obituary:
"Bill made the world a better place and his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him."
He is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter, his parents, seven siblings, and twenty-seven adoring nieces and nephews, according to his obituary.
A GoFundMe for his family has raised over $20,000 in less than 24 hours. Click here to donate to the GoFundMe.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church located at 601 East Delp Road in Lancaster at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. It will also be live-streamed on the church's website.
Instead of flowers donations can be made to Attachment & Trauma Network, Aaron’s Acres, or SHARE of Lancaster.
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