William (Bill) Joseph Bouffard, Jr.

We have lost a great union representative, victim activist, Notre Dame loyalist, Corvette enthusiast and a proud Navy Seabee veteran.

Bill was born to William J. Bouffard and Laura Lear on November 17, 1943 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. When he was 9 months old the family moved to Arizona where his father had accepted a position in support of the war effort. Later the family relocated to Los Angeles where Bill attended St. Mathias Church in Huntington Park. It was in this parish that he took his first communion and completed his elementary education.

In 1962 Bill began his sheet metal apprenticeship program with Los Angeles Local 108, becoming a third-generation sheet metal worker. In 1973 he was elected as a Union Officer and went on to be elected to every union position within Local 108/105. He was an officer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, President of the Los Angeles Joint Apprenticeship Program and served for many years on various trust fund committees. He officially retired in 2001. At the time of his death, Bill was secretary to the Sheet Metal Local 105 Retiree Club.

After completing the Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship Program in 1966, Bill joined the U.S. Navy Seabees and was stationed in Davisville, Rhode Island. He was assigned to the U.S Navy Seabees Construction Battalion 6 and served in Chu Li, Vietnam during 1967-1968.

Bill was a loyal fan of Notre Dame football, never missing a Saturday game. Another love was Corvettes, especially his 1966 one. He loved the labor movement and proudly served the labor industry.  Following a family tragedy in 1996, Bill became a caring advocate, supporting victim rights through Marsy’s Law (the 2008 Victim’s Bill of Rights Act) and Justice for Homicide Victims. Bill loved to travel and he and Jane have visited all 50 states, taken numerous cruises and traveled throughout the world.

In 1969 Bill married (Linda) Jane Vardon. Together they had two children, William Joseph III and Melissa Noell Burns. In 1972, the family moved to Cerritos, CA, where they have resided for the last 48 years. Bill was extremely proud of his 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He will be missed by his family, brothers Walter (Gwen) and Robert (Pam), along with his nephews and many other family members. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Joe and his parents.

Should you wish, donations may be made in his honor to the Sheet Metal Local 105 Retiree Club, 2129 Auto Center Drive, Glendora, CA 91740, or to Justice for Homicide Victims, PO Box 4202, Cerritos, CA 90702.

Bill was a man greatly loved and he will be greatly missed.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401