William Andrew Priestley, 88, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on Jan. 10. 2016.
He is survive by his life-long friend, love, and former wife Dorothy Zeller of Vero Beach; his daughter Jackie Solari and son-in-law Bob Solari also of Vero Beach; Sheila Priestley and son-in-law Kenny Wegman of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and Susan Smith of Vero Beach.
Priestley was born in Rahway, N.J., on Dec. 30, 1927, and was the son of William Uber Priestley and Alice Eugenie Hunt and the stepson of Theodore B. Hunt.
He attended and graduated from Christ Church Preparatory School in 1948. He started his college career at Randolph Macon College; however, after two years took a leave of absence to enter the Army, serving his Country during the Korean War.
Priestley served from 1951 to 1953 and was stationed in Berlin, Germany. He served as a Training Information and Education Officer and in the Military Police. After three years of service he returned to Virginia and resumed his college education at Randolph Macon College.
In 1955, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a minor in Psychology. He then moved his family to Miami and attended the University of Miami where he obtained a Masters of Arts degree in history. He taught in Miami at Jackson High School until 1960 when he was offered a job as a teacher and swimming coach at Vero Beach High School.
Priestley was a dedicated and gifted coach who worked tirelessly to develop a swimming team that became one of the top teams in the state. Many of his swimmers were state and nationally ranked champions. Priestley was awarded many honors receiving Coach of the Year and All Conference Coach awards for numerous years. He taught thousands of children to swim on the Treasure Coast and was a mentor to many others.
In 1975, he and his daughter Jackie established Vero Beach Health and Country Club which they later renamed The Jungle Club. The Jungle Club was testimony to Priestley’s love and respect for nature as he avoided destroying the natural beauty of the land the club was built on. His club became a premier health club in Indian River County.
Active his entire life, Priestley could regularly be seen working out at Christi’s gym during the past 15 years.
Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Gifford Youth Achievement Center at 4875 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach, Fl 32967.
