Willem E. “Bill” Boom, 100, of Vero Beach and Greenwich, Conn., passed away peacefully while reading his morning newspaper on Aug. 19, 2016, eight days after celebrating his 100th birthday with family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife, Helen; children (Andrew and Jan Jacob); three grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren.
Boom was born Aug. 11, 1916, n Montclair, N.J., the son of Andries A. Boom and Marie C. L. Gonggryp. He graduated from Swarthmore College (Class of 1938).
Shortly after America’s entry into World War II, he obtained a commission in the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) and became a multi-engine rated pilot. He saw action in both the Pacific and European theaters of war; culminating with his appointment as the Air Attaché to the American Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands in May 1945.
Boom was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force and held several executive positions with the Boeing-Vertol Company. He is best remembered for receiving permission to land in 1959 a Piasecki H-21 helicopter in the Vatican’s San Damaso Courtyard and had it blessed by Pope John XXIII. Subsequently, he became the European Director of the Budd Company in Paris, France, where he retired in 1985.
His hobbies and interests were many and he was an avid world traveler. He and his wife Helen travelled throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Boom was a legendary sportsman and skied until he was 76, ice skated until he was 82, flew until he was 85, sailed until he was 90 and rode a bicycle until he was 96.
A Memorial Service was held in Vero Beach on Aug. 22, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the World Wildlife Fund or the Vero Beach Humane Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.
An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.