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In Bill's  Memory
Bill the Chimp, 1946-2007
Resident at the Sequoia Park Zoo for fifty years and one of the oldest chimpanzees in captivity, Bill was more than sixty years old when he passed away quietly in the company of his Zookeepers and Veterinarian just before 7pm on Tuesday June 26th.
Bill arrived at the zoo in 1957 when a group of Eureka schoolchildren purchased him from a traveling circus. He was pretty rambunctious in those days and better known for his poop-throwing than his painting, and while he had a companion, Ziggy, for a while, the two were more competitive rivals than friends. After Ziggy’s death in 1996, Bill showed no signs of depression, but instead responded enthusiastically to the added space and attention.
He clearly preferred the companionship of his human keepers and his many visitors. Over the years he had been a loyal friend to many, finding time in his day to share his thoughts through hoots and raspberries, or send visitors scattering with a toss of his affections. As he grew older, like his human counterparts, he mellowed, took up hobbies (painting and lounging in front of the TV) and continued to enjoy his favorite foods - in Bill’s case, ripe bananas.
Jan Roletto, Bill’s keeper for the last few years of his life, engaged with him in daily enrichment activities to keep his mind and body active, and Bill always enjoyed the regular ‘fun days’ at the zoo. Snow Day where this year he tossed snowballs at his fans and hooted with pleasure as they all cheered. The Eggs-travaganza, where he watched the children searching for eggs from his favored viewing platform and Boo at the Zoo where he always seemed interested in what people would be wearing next.
Most of all, Bill enjoyed interacting with his visitors, and always acknowledged his old friends with a wave or a nod of his wise old head.
This page is dedicated to Bill and the fond memories we all have of him. To share your memories, please write to bill@sequoiaparkzoo.net
Bill the chimpanzee dies quietly Tuesday evening -Rebecca S. Bender, Eureka Reporter |
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I feel a deep personal loss. Bill's home is a five or six minute walk
from my house and I often stopped in to see him on my way to the Cutten
Post Office or when I was just walking. When my husband and I moved
here in 1991, we were surprised and delighted to find a zoo so close to
us. The great apes have always been my favorite and when we lived in
San Francisco my husband gave me adoption papers for a new-born baby
gorilla. That was an unusual birthday gift but I loved it. I understand
the reasons for not replacing Bill with another chimpanzee but there
will be a big empty space in my heart. -Dorothy Aspinwall
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Bill,
You provided so many years of entertainment to all of us; you will be missed but never forgotten. I am so glad that a year ago when I came home for a visit I was able to stop by for a few minutes to see you. You truly are a legacy in Eureka and your memory will live on forever. I will never forget watching you through poo at random people over the years, all the while thinking to myself they deserved it; anyone who claims that animals don't have humor and personalities like humans do never had the pleasure of meeting you! We all know you will be looking down on us from the great zoo above!
Rest in peace Bill. -Melynda Snowden
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I first saw Bill at the zoo when I was about 8 years old. I remember how we all thought he was so funny. I grew up, married and had 5 kids. We took our kids to the zoo all the time to visit....BILL..... he was always our main attraction. We are very sad that he is gone and we will miss him very much. I hope that he will be buried here at the zoo so that we can always pay our respect. He was like a person to everyone and a part of everyones family in Eureka. So long to you, Bill. May you always be remembered. -
THE MELTON FAMILY
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His passing pulls at all our hearts. He will be greatly missed and we will all turn and look at that corner as if expecting to see him when we visit. -Jim Isaac, James
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I was one of the kids who grew up with Bill. What I learned from him is that when you looked into his eyes and he looked back at you, that was a PERSON looking back. I've had cats, I've had dogs, they're nice but they're animals. Bill was a PERSON. In whatever memorial is finally decided upon, please don't refer to him as "Bill the Chimp".
He was always just "Bill" and we will always remember him that way. -Julie Timmons
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My family and I are from McKinleyville. We are on vacation, down in central California, and found out that Bill was ill. We only found out he passed away when we accessed your web site for the address to send a card to him. We met Bill through my kids' involvement in Junior Zoo Keepers. I was impressed when Bill was visited by, and garnered the support, of Jane Goodall. What a life he led. He will be remembered, especially by my family. - John Allenegui
"I liked it when Bill threw hay at me during Junior Zoo Keepers" - Aimee Allenegui
"Bill was a really good ape and I'm going to miss him. When we get back to McKinleyville, I was going to ask my Dad if we could go see Bill. I also liked the tricks that he did and I'm really going to miss him. - Elijah Allenegui
"He was a funny-chunky-"monkey" ...and I'll miss him. - Maddy Allenegui
-The Allenegui Family
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I just read that dear old Bill has passed away. How sad for all of us. I was 13 (now 60) when I moved to Eureka and have many fond, and some funny, memories of the old guy. And my kids and grandkids have all loved the zoo and Bill. Sometimes, he was boisterous and ran around his enclosure, whooping and sometimes throwing things. At other times, he just sat quietly watching people, looking like a wise old man. I read in the paper that his body was being shipped away for study, but I really think it fitting that he be buried at the zoo where he spent so much of his life. I'm going to miss that old fella. - Karen L. McKenzie
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I am not sure if you have started anything for rememberences of Bill, but I just discovered online that he has passed... I live in Portland now and my mother emailed me Tuesday morning to let me know Bill was not well. Two coworkers of mine are also from Eureka, so I shared the somber news that an old friend was not well. Imagine if you will, someone sitting at their desk in a large office building realizing that others around might not understand the sadness felt for a primate....I didn't care, I knew what Bill meant to the zoo, and to everyone who ever visited. I will never forget many random trips to the zoo only to be entertained by Bill... several times I would have stood there in front of his enclosure for hours on end if not for my parents wanting to eventually leave the zoo. A great source of entertainment for all... the zoo will never be the same without our dear friend Bill. To those of you who have had the pleasure of being so up close and personal with him, you are in my thoughts and prayers as you get through these rough days ahead. Thanks for taking care of him and making him as comfortable as possible during his last days. May we all meet him again one day. -Melynda Snowden
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