William Bernard “Bill” Kinslow IV, age 35 years, of New York City, NY, died suddenly and peacefully from natural causes on Monday, February 3, 2020 at his home.

Born in Somerville, NJ, August 17, 1984, son of Joni Lynn Grimes Kinslow and William Bernard Kinslow III, Bill had resided for the past several years in Manhattan and Brooklyn, NY, having grown up in Raritan Township, NJ.

A 2002 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Flemington, NJ, Bill went on to earn his BS in advertising from West Virginia University in 2009 where he was a proud member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was most recently a VP Group Copy Supervisor with professional pharmaceutical advertising agencies such as The Bloc and Heartbeat Ideas in New York City, where he was admired for both his versatile creative writing as well as his humorous and joyful heart.

Raised Catholic, Bill’s upbringing laid a strong moral foundation which he put into practice each and every day. He was kind, compassionate, and in many ways, an ‘Old Soul’ who felt that loving others whole and unconditionally was the best way to navigate this world.

A true child of the ’90s, Bill enjoyed playing lacrosse, baseball and soccer when he was young and had a “Joie de Vivre” as described by his family that was simply infectious. He was known as the ‘family heart’, as he cared for everyone so deeply and was there for each of them in whatever was he was able.

Bill’s dry humor was legendary and he had a knack for making people laugh in any situation as well as always being able to find the ‘right’ and ‘appropriate’ words for any situation. Laughter was his “super power” and he was the life of any party.

His passion for writing was nurtured at a young age and he greatly enjoyed comedy and sketch writing. He had been taking classes at Gotham Writers Workshop and People’s Improv Theater to help grow his dream of writing for a show like ‘Saturday Night Live’ or ‘The Office’, both of which he enjoyed. As his father said, “Bill’s wit was as quick as his lacrosse stick and his mastery of the English language was epic!”

Bill will be remembered for many things, but most of all he will be known for never resting on his laurels. He was driven to perfection in all that he did and never let fear hold him back. Moving to New York City right after college was his first big test which he passed with perfection. It is important to note that Bill never compromised on his morals or his work ethic as he grew in his professional life. His moral compass was always pointed in the direction of ‘right’ and for that, he was appreciated by all who knew him.

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.” Though Bill’s sudden death has rocked and shaken his family and friends, they hope that all reading this remember that to laugh, and to live kindly, is to honor Bill’s legacy.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, William Bernard Kinslow, Jr., and his maternal grandfather, Jack Grimes.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are his younger brother and sister-in-law, Zachary Kinslow and Caroline Cleaver Kinslow; his maternal grandmother, Carmen Grimes; his paternal grandmother, Margaret Kinslow; his aunts and uncles, Sharon and Jim Hill, Jane and Jeffrey King, Rob Kinslow and Janice Zazinski, Anne Taylor, Kathleen Kinslow, Tom and Joanne Kinslow, and John and Marci Kinslow; his cherished and adored dog, Lenny; numerous cousins and extended family; and many dear friends around the world.

Family and friends are invited to a gathering on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822.

Life celebration services will take place on Tuesday, beginning at 7:00 p.m. following the visitation, and to which all are welcome.

Committal prayers followed by cremation at Somerset Hills Memorial Park Crematory, Bernards Township, NJ, were private.

Please visit Bill’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Bill are asked to make a gift in his name to The Philly Bully Team. Please click HERE to be taken to his personal memorial page.

For those who wish to make a contribution via mail, please make checks payable to “In Memory Of” and mail to P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905. Kindly note ‘Bill Kinslow’ in the memo. All contributions, regardless of the amount, are very much appreciated by the family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”