William Reid Henderson
Bill’s life was guided by his deep connection to nature. He was most joyful when sharing his knowledge of the wild.
Raised in Santa Barbara CA, Bill’s closeness to the ocean and mountains was nurtured from the beginning. He spent a year on Oahu in the 60s living out his endless summer dream. When the mountains called, Bill moved to forested Oregon where he lived for a brief time. Santa Barbara’s balance between coast and peaks always called him back, and this is where he reestablished his permanent roots.
Bill knew our backcountry like the back of his hand and spent years leading Sierra Club hikes. He went on countless backpacking trips, both solo and with friends, and had endless stories to tell about wild encounters and peaceful introspection.
In the early 2000s, Bill dusted off his surfboard in order to teach his youngest daughter how to surf. You could find him any day, no matter how big or small, between Leadbetter and Rincon, catching long rides on the inside.
As Bill’s physical ability declined, he found adventure and purpose in his walks through the San Marcos Preserve, Qigong at Alice Keck Park, and then, until the end, slow walks at Shoreline Park to watch his beloved Cormorant sea birds. He was a seeker of inner peace and lived by a mindfulness practice.
Bill leaves behind his three children, a sister, as well as his dear friends, neighbors and community. We will find Bill eternally in the mountain air and ocean breeze.
There will be a paddle out on June 15th at Leadbetter Beach at 11:00am. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held in August. (Please contact Hannah for information: hannahjdhenderson@yahoo.com)
“May you be safe. May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be at ease.”