William Sydney Jaffe

William Sydney Jaffe, known as Bill to his family and friends (or as Bill S. or Bill Sydney to distinguish him from his father Bill), and to some of his coworkers at UPS as Billy, passed away in his sleep Saturday night, June 8-9. He was 50 years old.

Bill was born in Washington, DC and lived in northern Virginia where he graduated from Marshall High School in Fairfax and attended George Mason University. In his youth he moved with his family to Barre, Vermont, then Hanover, New Hampshire, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bill worked for many years in the Adventure Gaming Industry for Mayfair Games, Zocchi Distributors, and ACD. In late 2006 he moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Oakland, California. Bill was a founding partner in 1A Games.

He loved tabletop wargames and sports, following the Washington Redskins in particular. Bill played fantasy sports where he made many friends.

Condolences poured in from Bill’s Facebook friends and professional game industry colleagues who saw him at many game conventions. Just a few of the accolades included “a smart and funny guy,” “a gentleman with a sense of humor,” “funny and friendly,” and a “most genuine and truly nice man.”

Bill is survived by his mother Anne F. Merritt, his father William Warren Jaffe, and his sister Karen Jaffe. He also enjoyed the love of his stepmother, Louisa Long Jaffe, and her daughters Sarah and Jennifer Cullem. Bill’s stepfather Dana Lombardy, step sister Erin Marie Svoboda, and step brother-in-law Abraham Svoboda were part of Bill’s immediate family in California. Bill had a large extended family of uncles, aunts, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, June 20, at the Grant Miller-John Cox Mortuary in Oakland, California, 2850 Telegraph Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that people donate to their favorite charities in Bill’s name.

Bill will be remembered. He will be truly missed.

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