William Laird

Bill Laird, 79, of Oakland, California, passed away peacefully on February 9, 2026. He is survived by his devoted wife of 29 years, Sharon, his stepson Nick Felicich, his sister Linda Roberts, his brother John, and many other family members and friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Alan and Joyce Laird.

Born in Montreal, Canada, Bill lived in Richmond and El Cerrito before settling with his family in Lafayette, California, where he attended Acalanes High School and earned a National Merit Scholarship. He studied Engineering at UC Davis and English at UC Berkeley. In the early 1970s, he lived in Santa Cruz and studied Art at Cabrillo College. He went on to become a licensed surveyor, working independently and for engineering firms throughout a 30-year career.

Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 56, Bill continued to travel and pursue his intellectual interests well into his sixties. An accomplished artist, he continued creating paintings with the help of his studio assistant into his seventies. Throughout his life, he remained a passionate lover of nature, art, race cars, and the San Francisco 49ers.