William R Haas

William (Bill) Roy Haas of Beachwood, Ohio passed away surrounded by family on September 25th. Bill was the husband of Shirley (nee Sussman), father of Michael (Raquel), Jeffrey (Nicole), and Rachael (Rich), grandfather “Papa” to Kyle, Alexandra, Sophia and Samuel. Bill is survived by his sister Karen Rosenberg (Alan), and his nephews and nieces.

Born on June 11, 1945 to Lilian and Edward Haas, Bill graduated from Charles F. Brush High School and Cuyahoga Community College. Bill was a leading insurance agent and broker for Prudential Insurance Companies of America and later the founder of Haas Haas and Associates. Bill was a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Roundtable, one of the highest distinctions for people in the life insurance industry.

Bill was a lifetime member of Taylor Road Synagogue, Cedar Sinai, and Bnai Jeshurun Synagogue. Bill was a former board member of Taylor Road, Cedar Sinai and active leader of Bnai Jeshurun. Bill was also a former board member of the Cleveland Bureau of Jewish Education (now Jewish Education Center of Cleveland), and the Agnon School (now Mandel Jewish Day School). Bill was a brother mason of the Forest City Lodge.

Bill loved to travel with his wife Shirley and fish. There was not a beach on either coast that they did not enjoy together. Bill shared a boat with one of his best friends, Ron, called “Branch Office”. On summer days you could often find him fishing on Lake Erie. His first love was his family. Every meal they shared together was the “best meal”, particularly Shabbat dinners and the Jewish Holiday meals. Bill was dedicated to his children, always available to them and later in life always available for his grandchildren. He never missed an event or an opportunity to spend time with any of them. Family was at the core of everything Bill did. He was the centerpiece and the connector of an extended family of cousins across the country.

Bill and Shirley recently celebrated their 59th anniversary together.