Bill was born on October 29, 1935, in Camden, NJ. He attended Toms River High School South, and went on to further his education at Rider College, Trenton State College, and Cornell University. He served as both a Seaside Heights Police Officer as well as a Dover Township Police Officer, completed the U.S. Marine Corp basic training and attended the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. Over the course of his career, Bill served as a Casino Control Commissioner in Atlantic City, as Undersheriff and acting Sheriff of Ocean County, and as a Town Councilman — a lifetime devoted to public service and his community. He also shared his knowledge and experience as a teacher of Criminal Justice classes at Ocean County College.

What Bill loved most, though, was simply being with his family. He also cherished the Florida Keys and the view from the Summit House atop Skinner Mountain in western Massachusetts. He had a beautiful smile, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia L. Sommeling; his son William A. Sommeling and daughter-in-law Dawn Sommeling; his daughters Susan P. Tassioulas, Cynthia F. Civil and son-in-law Garry Civil, Mary E. Meola, Margaret A. Sommeling, and Patricia E. Sommeling and son-in-law Seth H. Fischer; his brother Michael Sommeling and sister-in-law Dona Sommeling; along with 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Louise Kathryn Sernaque; his son, Stephen Michael Sommeling; his brothers, Harry Sommeling and Shannon Sommeling; his grandson, Matthew Sernaque and son-in-law Al Meola.

Services for Bill will be held Friday evening, July 31, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Carmona-Bolen Funeral Home in Toms River, NJ. A Mass in his honor will be celebrated on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at 10:00am at St. Justin’s Parish on Fischer Blvd, Toms River. Burial will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department PBA 379, PO Box 4952, Toms River, NJ 09754. Condolences and memories may be expressed to the family by visiting www.carmonabolenfh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William, please visit the floral store.

This obituary is protected against unauthorized reproduction or redistribution without the funeral home’s or family’s consent.

Events

Visitation

Friday, July 31, 2026

4:00PM – 8:00PM

Carmona-Bolen – Toms River

412 Main Street

Toms River, NJ 08753

Funeral Mass

Saturday, August 1, 2026

10:00AM

St. Justin the Martyr Roman Catholic Church

975 Fischer Blvd

Toms River, NJ 08753

Guaranteed delivery before William’s Funeral Mass begins.

Entombment

Saturday, August 1, 2026

11:30AM

St. Joseph Cemetery and Mausoleums

56-80 Cedar Grove Road

Toms River, NJ 08753

Guaranteed delivery before William’s Entombment begins.

Final Resting Place

St. Joseph Cemetery and Mausoleums

56-80 Cedar Grove Road

Toms River, NJ 08753