August 21, 1946 - July 27, 2022.

Joseph William Tillett, Jr. ("Bill") was born in Bradenton, Florida on August 21, 1946 and graduated from Palmetto High School where he was a standout player on the Tiger baseball and basketball teams. He grew up in Terra Ceia, Florida, helping work on the family citrus groves. In the groves, Bill learned his strong work ethic, and developed his taste for citrus and fresh fruits and vegetables. He also enjoyed growing up on the water, fostering his love of fishing and the coastal life, which he maintained his entire life.

Bill worked his way through high school and was very proud to buy his first car himself, a 1964 blue and white Ford Fairlane. In fact, his love of cars played a large role in his introduction to Trudi. When Bill and Trudi both attended Florida State University at Phi Delta Theta parties, Bill was tasked with driving the pretty co-eds to the fraternity house. It was on such an occasion that he was introduced to Trudi and the rest is history.

While at FSU, Bill enjoyed playing intramural sports, basketball in particular. However, he wisely changed his major from physical education to accounting where he excelled and passed all 4 parts of the Florida CPA exam in the first sitting. He also graduated FSU with ROTC honors. After FSU graduation, Bill secured a new job as an auditor at Ernst & Ernst, now Ernst & Young (EY) in Tampa, Florida. Bill and Trudi were married a few months later on December 27, 1968 and headed to Germany where Bill served as a Finance Officer for the U.S. Army in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Bill was very popular at this post, as his main responsibility was the distribution of paychecks. Bill and Trudi traveled
extensively in Europe and welcomed their first child, Monica, while in Germany.

Upon the completion of Bill's post, Trudi and Bill returned to St. Petersburg, Florida where Bill resumed his career as an auditor. Bill and Trudi enjoyed living in St Pete close to family during these early days of their marriage, and welcomed their second child, John William. During these years Bill enjoyed playing on the Ernst softball team, playing tennis with Trudi, and fishing with his brother-in-law and other family friends, often mullet fishing by cast net. The family eventually moved to Atlanta, Georgia for Bill's growing responsibilities with EY, where Bill specialized in the Healthcare practice. Bill held many leadership positions while at EY, also serving as the Chairman of the Health Care Committee of the AICPA from 1987-1990. Bill worked his entire career at EY until he retired as a Senior Partner in August 2004. Bill traveled extensively during and after his work years, earning lifetime platinum status on Delta Airlines.

Throughout his career, Bill served his clients with the highest integrity and forged many lifelong friendships with both clients and colleagues.Bill enjoyed mentoring those on his team and was so very proud of all their accomplishments. Throughout his life Bill worked and played hard. An avid fisherman and sports enthusiast, he held season tickets for his beloved Seminoles for nearly 40 years, and deeply relished the many 'Nole' National Championship victories for decades. Bill loved escaping to the family beach home on St. George Island in the Florida panhandle, and fishing on his boat the BillFisher, St. George is not far from Tallahassee, the home of FSU. The family celebrated many good times with loved ones at St. George, enjoying Thanksgiving there when FSU hosted the notorious Gator – Seminole rivalry game. Bill was passionate about deep sea fishing, and he participated in numerous Grand Slam tournaments, Squires Club, and fishing trips to Costa Rica and Venezuela. Perhaps his greatest joy of all beyond his family was the sight of the water with his beloved 35-foot Sport fishing Cabo, the Quickstrike, parked at the dock at the back of his house in Palm City.

In retirement, Bill enjoyed spending time with family and loved seeing his grandchildren grow up. Bill also stayed in close contact with many of his work colleagues and old friends. He looked forward to the annual football weekend with his Phi Delt fraternity brothers in Panacea, Florida. Bill also formed his own consulting firm and worked as an expert witness in several accounting fraud cases. He later served on the Navicent Health Board, where he led the Finance Committee and was honored to continue his board service on the Atrium Board upon the acquisition of Navicent. Retirement also allowed Bill more time to enjoy cooking the gourmet meals he had prepared on weekend time while he was working. His fish, grilled meats, pastas and soups were savored by many friends and family. When he wasn't busy in the kitchen, Bill enjoyed meeting friends for lunch, most recently at Shrimpers, and always would be accompanied by a beloved Airedale, typically arriving in his 1986 Porsche 911 Cabriolet with the top down. Bill was so very talented in keeping in contact with so many people he'd known throughout his life, as well as building new friendships with those he encountered in Palm City.

Bill is survived by his wife of over 53 years, Trudi Robinson Tillett of Palm City, Florida; his daughter Monica Tillett Olsen and her family Christian, Abigail and Caleb Olsen, of Palm City, Florida; his son John William Tillett and his family Sahar, Lillian, Jack, Chalize and Shayda Tillett, of Denver, Colorado.