William Frederick Acquino died on November 17, just one day shy of his 63rd birthday, at his home in Landers, California, surrounded by his immediate family.
Mr. Acquino was born in Southampton Hospital on November 18, 1952, to John and Marilyn Acquino. He graduated in 1971 from Southampton High School, where he held leadership positions and distinguished himself as a superb athlete, most notably as a powerful running back for the Mariners. Following high school, he attended Fitchburg State in Massachusetts before he settled into the family building business, Harry H. Wilde Inc. in Southampton.
Honing his skills for several years locally, he then moved to Florida, working with his uncle, and there met and married Nancy Karl. The couple moved back to Southampton and had two children, Kristine Rae, and Michael John. While back in Southampton and in the family business, Mr. Acquino found time to become a volunteer fireman in the North Sea Fire Department, where he was an enthusiastic member, especially concerning the Fourth of July float.
The family eventually moved west, with a brief period in Colorado, and then living in California. Mr. Acquino established himself as a carpenter in the south Bay area, where he started his own construction business as a general contractor headquartered in Burlingame. He became ill in late 2013 and moved to Landers to be cared for by his immediate family.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Karl; a daughter, Kristine Atkinson and husband Jesse; a son, Michael and wife Hava; his parents, John and Marilyn of Florida; brothers, John, Dave and Chris of Southampton; and sister, Jill of Bellport. He is also survived by an extended family of sisters-in-law, nieces, grand-nieces, nephews, grand-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, classmates and North Sea firemen.
A memorial service will be celebrated in Landers on December 7 at the Integratron. An East Coast memorial service will take place in summer 2016, which will include a road trip to his beloved Yankee Stadium.
Memorial donations may be made to Derek Jeter’s “Turn 2 Foundation” at mlb.mlb.com/players/jeter_derek/turn2/donate.jsp.