A chance meeting with local businessmen at a bar that William Bill Maxey once owned in San Francisco led to an invitation for him to come and run Lumana’i Development Corporation, a company owned by Alo Dr. Paul Stevenson, with partners, the late Manu Meredith and the late Vani Atafua. The year was 1985.
The Kentucky native who grew up on the US west coast came with his then girlfriend Caroline Rising, fell in love with the place and settled here. The couple returned after a few months to San Francisco to get married then moved to the territory.
Maxey died early last Friday morning at the age of 78 with his wife Caroline and daughter Nicole Talimailelagi by his side.
Bill suffered two strokes, the first one 3½ years ago, but was mobile in his motorized wheelchair.
Good friend and fellow Rotarian Joe Weilenman said while at a VA facility in Honolulu, going through rehabilitation, Bill enjoyed driving his wheelchair into out of bounds areas of the facility to set the alarms off.
It was that fighting spirit that also went into building their business. After running Lumanai, he and Caroline setup CSL in 1992 at the back of the top story of Sadie Thompson Inn.
“CSL started from one room with three desks at the back of Sadies,” recalls Caroline.
The third person in the company was Jay Vaoali’i. He describes Bill as a straightforward person, who doesn’t take any BS. “He loves people as long as they don’t screw him over,” said Vaoali’i.
From Sadies, CSL moved to the Malua Hunkin Building in Nuuuli until they built their warehouse across from the Office of Procurement in Tafuna, where they ran a retail hardware store, building supply source, and a courier service.
In 2011 the company closed their retail business to concentrate on freight forwarding, construction sourcing, the courier service (Fedex) and now a USPS postal facility.
Bill has been president of Rotary twice, and he came up with the idea of importing real Christmas trees as a fundraiser for Rotary. The club has continued the tradition for well over 20 years.
Caroline said her husband was the most interesting man she’s ever met. “He was a very good man and we miss him very much,” she reflected.
Bill’s wish was to be cremated and plans are being made to take his body to Samoa for cremation.
Caroline assures that there will be a party to celebrate his life.
Here’s to you Bill! No more calls to express your opinions about things that matter on our rock! Tofa Soifua.
