Bill is from San Diego. After high school he attended the US Naval Academy, graduating in 1968, and completed navy flight school the following year. Upon discharge in 1973, he became a clinical social worker. He has helped manage human services organizations and worked as a psychotherapist in private practice since then.

He is married and has three daughters, the youngest of which is now in college. He and his wife, Mary, are enjoying the empty nest syndrome. Bill is a "retired" cyclist (he says he can no longer reach dropped handlbars) who now concentrates on tennis and acoustic guitar/ballad singing. His lives in Norfolk, Virginia.