William Goverman

William Goverman passed away on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was 59. The family will have a Celebration of Life service Nov 22, 2025 at the home of his cousins Karen and Rick Fauber: 820 Quicks Mill Road, Staunton VA 24401. Donations in his name(s) ie William, Bill or Billy Goverman may be made to the Center of Discovery
Born September 2nd, 1966 in Boston, Massachusetts, Bill was the youngest of three. But his title of “baby of the family,” proved ironic due to the size of his personality as well as his stature – his father Mel told future generations that Billy was such a large baby that traditional baby shoes wouldn’t fit him and they had to put the cardboard shoe boxes on his feet instead. Billy quickly developed passions that would stay with him for his whole life – a love of the beach, big dogs, and, most fanatically, the Boston Red Sox. A legendary star turn as Emile De Becque in his high school production of South Pacific paved the way for a prolific karaoke career. 
Billy met the love of his life, Heidi, at age 22 and they enjoyed thirty-seven happy years together. Before having children of their own, Billy and Heidi were an all-time great aunt-and-uncle pair with Billy the definitive “fun uncle.” He delighted his nieces and nephews with his playful energy, dry wit and healthy appreciation of toilet humor. He unsurprisingly carried this with him as a doting father to his own sons, Sam and Jacob, and took great pleasure in coaching their sports teams, going on road trips, and of course, laughing together. 
Bill spent most of his adult life in Los Angeles with his family, and his love of family played a big role in his work, running a successful business matching families with nannies and housekeepers. In 2022, the LA Govermans became bicoastal, adding a home in Staunton, Virginia to be closer to their extended family. In Staunton Billy returned to his theater roots as he took a role in a local production of And Then There Were None and, in his own words, the audience “surged.” One of Billy’s great pleasures in his time in Staunton was the deck on his new house, and specifically, its huge, beautiful view of the sunset. Billy would send a nightly sunset picture to the family group text, and to them perhaps the sunsets looked kind of the same. But Billy appreciated the beautiful uniqueness of each sunset. 
Billy is survived by his beloved wife Heidi and his sons Samuel Fenway and Jacob Shea (both named after baseball stadiums). He also leaves behind and will be greatly missed by his mother Carol, his siblings Phyllis and Brad, many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, three English Mastiffs (Goose, Duck and Mack), a host of college and high school friends that he actually stayed close with, treasured clients and colleagues he felt proud to work with and the Boston Red Sox franchise. He is predeceased by his father and best friend Mel and their family likes to think they’ll be watching the rest of the World Series together.