William P. Brophy,  Sr.

Age: 82
Bridgewater

William P. Brophy, 82, of Bridgewater, NJ passed away on August 30th. Born in Philadelphia, he resided in Bridgewater for the past 46 years. He attended Texas A&M University, where he played varsity basketball, graduating in 1956.

He had a long and successful career in sales, attaining the level of national sales manager for Unique Zipper. Following his corporate career, he started his own business in the needle and craft industry and ran it successfully until his retirement. His love of basketball continued for his entire life. He played in several Senior Olympic Games, as recently as 2005 , winning the Arizona State Gold Medal and competing in the national Senior Olympics Games. He was a well-known figure in the gyms of Somerset County, known as "the Shot Doctor". He taught countless athletes, from middle-schoolers to NBA players, how to improve their shot.

He is survived by his wife, Martha and seven children: Bill Jr. of Bridgewater and his wife Karen, Michael of West Chester, PA, Kathy Ehrsam of Tucson, AZ and her husband Scott, Chris of Fayetteville, AR and his wife Jenann, Brian of West Chester, PA and his wife Kelly, Steve of Wilmington, DE and his partner Joanne Lombardi, and Alicia Schlosberg of Thornton, PA and her husband Rick as well as two brothers: Richard and James of Broomall, PA and Betty McClory of Wynnewood, PA and ten grandchildren.

Visitation from 7pm-9pm on Thursday, September 3 at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30am on Friday, September 4, at the Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Ave., Somerville. Entombment to follow at St. Bernard Mausoleum, Bridgewater.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Support Center of Central New Jersey (cancersupportcnj.org) or Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ (cinj.org).