NEW! Be sure to read about The Smile Fund!
NEW! The unveiling took place October 25, 2015 (also available via Eulogies page)
Brief Bio
Bill Mantinband was born March 15, 1926 in Poughkeepsie, NY, to Rabbi Charles and Anna Mantinband, joining older sister Carol.
Bill grew up mostly in Williamsport, PA, where the family was joined by his foster brothers, Dan and Frank Aaron. Bill spent his high school years back in Poughkeepsie at the Oakwood Friends School.
At a young adults conference, he met Edith, whom he married in 1952 after a stint in the US Army during the Korean War. They moved to Austin where he studied geology at the University.
They had five children - Shmuel, Yehoshua (Jack), Monti, Yoseph (Joel), and Golda.
The family lived in Texas before moving to St. Louis, Missouri in 1963. Bill worked there as a cartographer for the US government until his retirement at the age of 77. He founded and shepherded the Toastmaster's club at his workplace for over 25 years.
He was active in his synagogue, Brith Sholom Knesseth Israel and as a volunteer for various organizations. He particularly enjoyed his volunteer work helping travellers at the Kirkwood Amtrak station and the St. Louis light rail station at Lambert Field.
Bill was perhaps best known for his trademark "Free Ticket" business cards ("It's not good for anything, it's just free!"), his million dollar bills, and his ever-handy red clown nose used to delight children and adults alike.
He passed away at the age of 88 on December 30, 2014, in St. Louis. He is sorely missed by his family and friends and the many people whose life he enriched with his acts of kindness and gentle sense of humor.
