Bob Williams, 63

Robert Byrne Williams, 63, of Branford, passed away at home on March 28, surrounded by friends and family, after a long battle with lung cancer.

Bob was born in Bridgeport on November 25, 1949, son of the late Charles and Bernice Williams. He is survived by his wife, Joanna (Janny) Lehman, his son, Dylan, of Providence, R.I., his brothers Jeffrey of Long Island, N.Y., and Charles (Skip) of Florida, and his sister, Karen, of Long Island, N.Y. Including two sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law and their spouses, he is also survived by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and cousins, as well as many friends he considered his family. After attending the University of Delaware, Bob entered the book publishing business, becoming Vice President and Publisher of Cornerstone Library in New York City. 

In 1980, he and his business partner and friend, Barry Levine, began a bakery distribution business, and in 1985 they co-founded Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea, a specialty coffee roasting company in New Haven. Bob and Barry expanded Willoughby’s into a multi-store business which has become well known nationally. An avid sailor, Bob cruised the Thimble Islands, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Cuba with his sailing companions. He was also an accomplished cook and loved to play the guitar. The Williams family is grateful to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Smilow Cancer Center at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Ledgewood Rehabilitation, and to Connecticut Hospice Home Care for their consistent expertise, support, and caring.

A memorial service will be held for family and friends on the Stony Creek, Branford beach at 1:30 P.M., Saturday, April 6. Everyone is invited to a gathering following the ceremony at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library at 146 Thimble Islands Road, Stony Creek, from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers remember Bob with donations to the charity of your choice.