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William Raymond Severson, Jr. of Narberth, Pennsylvania, died peacefully during a rehab stay at Gwynedd Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center on November 21, 2024, with his wife, Joanne, at his side. Born August 30, 1949, Bill was the elder son of William R. and Anna Fabiani Severson of Gibbstown, New Jersey, where the extended family was active in civic affairs and his father served as Mayor. Enthusiastic about playing baseball and following the Phillies, Bill attended local schools and graduated in 1967 from Paulsboro High School where he had performed in plays and became attracted to the stage. He graduated in 1969 from the Philadelphia Academy of Theater where he met his first wife, Sandra Belfiore. Together, they performed Shakespeare plays on the High School of the Air program for two seasons on the predecessor station of WHYY and appeared on the Gene London Show. As a member of The Tadpole Players troupe, Bill crisscrossed Pennsylvania performing children’s theater under the direction of Bill Putsch, husband of Jean Stapleton. Bill studied acting at New York University's School of the Arts under the tutelage of such luminaries as Olympia Dukakis and NYU's legendary circus instructor, Hovey Burgess. In 1972, Bill and Sandra went on pilgrimage to India. Bill’s practice of meditation became a lifelong daily spiritual commitment. He became a devoted member and worship service leader of Self-Realization Fellowship, a worldwide religious organization which follows the Christian- and Hindu-based teachings of noted guru Paramahansa Yogananda: to disseminate “scientific techniques for attaining direct personal experience of God” and “to advocate cultural and spiritual understanding between East and West.” For more than 30 years, Bill was the sole proprietor of Wren Fellini Framing in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania where he provided framing services for collectors, artists, corporate art collections, and institutions including St. Joseph's University's museum and collections, LaSalle University Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and others. Bill was a singer/songwriter and guitarist, a member of a band in his youth, and once had a solo gig at intermissions at People's Light. He performed his original songs at the Houston Astrodome in 1973 with a band that included members of The Soul Survivors. A fervent non-objective artist who described his work as 'playing with color', he created artwork under the pseudonym Rudy Delooz. Bill was known by the many people who loved him to possess a sharp wit and an unmistakably distinctive laugh which could be heard for miles. Bill enjoyed supporting his daughter Kristin's equine pursuits as a dressage rider and trainer, helping to groom her horses and trailer them to dressage competitions. Bill served for 25 years on the Board of Trustees of the Narberth Community Library which conveyed Emeritus status for his distinguished service in September 2024. As a volunteer for more than 20 years in the conservation lab at The American Philosophical Society, Bill was honored to handle prized American manuscripts and books such as the Lewis and Clark journals. Committed to helping others and contributing to medical research on Lewy Body Dementia, Bill chose to donate his brain and ocular tissue to Penn's neurologic and ophthalmic researchers in whose studies he had participated and to give his body to the Humanity Gifts Registry at the University of Pennsylvania. Bill is survived by his wife of 27 years, Joanne Muir Behm; his daughter Kristin Leigh Severson-Amador (Edward); his former wife, Sandra Belfiore; his brother Robert Severson; his aunt of 96 years, Helen Fabiani Thompson; and numerous dear cousins and close friends. His Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11 a.m., in The Church of St. Asaph, Bala Cynwyd, PA (Episcopal) with involvement of Bill’s fellow Self Realization Fellowship members. A reception at the church to follow. Memorial contributions to honor Bill can be made to one of these not-for-profits: Silver Linings Sanctuary 194 Reeder Road Honey Brook, PA 19344 Phone: 610-724-0743 Website: https://silverliningssanctuary.org/ Founder: Kristin Severson-Amador Self-Realization Fellowship 3880 San Rafael Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90065-3219 Phone: 800-801-1952 Website: https://yogananda.org/

Tributes

William Raymond Severson Jr.

August 30, 1949 - November 21, 2024