William Charles Kerby

Dr. William Charles Kerby
January 17, 1938 - August 13, 2023

Dr. William (Bill) Charles Kerby passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 13th at
the age of 85 after a brief but valiant battle with lung cancer.
Sacramento native and lifelong resident, Bill was born to William John and Lorene
Elizabeth Kerby on January 17th, 1938. He attended Sacred Heart and Sacramento
High School, where he graduated at the age of 17 as valedictorian of his class. He
was a commencement speaker and graduated summa cum laude with a BA in
Business Administration from California State University Sacramento in 1959. He
continued at Sac State to obtain his Master’s Degree in Economics in 1961 before
going on to the University of Oregon, where he graduated with a Ph.D. in Economics
in 1971.
On a lucky day in 1965, Bill met Roseann Lavelle at his sister’s Christmas party in
Sacramento. The two immediately hit it off, fell in love, and were married at the
Sacramento Cathedral on July 2, 1966. Inseparable since that day, Bill and Roseann
built a home (literally) and raised three children, Matthew, Katie, & Ann, in the
Greenhaven neighborhood and remained in that house for over 50 years. Often
seen with tools in his hand and hard at work on fixing anything and everything for
anyone in the family or neighborhood, Bill was a neighborhood fixture who may or
may not have let his young children and grandchildren drive his Desoto “just around
the block.”
Dr. Kerby’s career began teaching as a graduate student, and then as faculty, at
California State University, Sacramento. During his tenure as a professor of
Economics spanning nearly 45 years, he served as the Vice Dean of the University
and as the Chair of the Economics Department. A staunch advocate for the
underrepresented in his community, he promoted Economic literacy through a
foundation that generated hands-on curricula and taught special programs in area
high schools. His most rewarding role was always teaching students at every level
so they could leave the class with not just a grade, but an understanding of
Economic principles, a favorite being that, “sunk costs are sunk.”
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Bill carried his passions for trains, education, outdoor adventure, and civic activism
throughout his career and into his retirement. His full life included many adventures
that spanned the nation and the globe. He toured Guatemala and Mexico on a
motorcycle in the early sixties. He enjoyed hikes in the mountains with his family
that often became epic feats of endurance for all since “we are almost there.” On
more than one occasion, Bill drove his 1940 DeSoto parallel to any train track while
chasing moving steam engines. He made sure to take his grandkids to nearby
beaches and redwoods, to national parks, and to find the Loch Ness Monster by way
of the Harry Potter train in Scotland. There was always a train ride to be had. Bill
continued to advocate for high-speed rail expansion in the State of California well
into his retirement, acting as the treasurer for the RailPAC and he would often
choose to dine at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Sacramento to watch the trains roar
past.
Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Roseann Lavelle Kerby, their children
Matthew Kerby, Katie Henderson, and Ann Sharma, and their spouses Michelle
Kerby, Joshua Henderson and Saurabh Sharma. He also leaves behind ten
grandchildren (Aidan, Liam, Megan, Rohan, Devin, Amanda, Charlotte, Ryan, Alex
and Erin) and a multitude of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews - all
of whom he spoiled with Vic’s ice cream and his famous homemade cookies and
pies. He was incredibly proud of his close-knit family and in turn, he was a beloved
and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.
William was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Brenda Elizabeth Kerby,
and many beloved cats, dogs, rabbits, rats, turtles, and frogs, most of which showed
up in his backyard knowing a kind soul (sucker) when they found one and never left.
William will be remembered for his kindness, intelligence, patience, gentle spirit,
and enormous generosity. The subtle, sometimes mischievous Irish glint in his eyes
and incredibly strong brew of his coffee will be profoundly missed.
Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church (1066 26th St,
Sacramento, CA 95816). Committal will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery at 1:00 pm
following the service (6509 Fruitridge Rd, Sacramento, CA 95820). An open house-
style remembrance reception will be held at Rio City Cafe in downtown Sacramento
from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. (1110 Front St, Sacramento, CA 95814.) Please contact
WF Gormley & Sons Mortuary in Sacramento with any additional inquiries.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Loaves and Fishes or the American
Cancer Society.