Deceased: 2016-05-30
Diocese: NEW YORK
Seminary Graduation Year: 1961
Beloved husband, cherished father, adored grandfather, uncle and friend, Dr. William J. (Bill) Tobin passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on May 30, 2016 after a brief illness. Born in January 1936 to William F. and Margaret M. Tobin in Manhattan, NYC he was an avid Mets, New York Football Giants, Rangers, and Knicks fan. He had one sister, Maureen Tobin (McNulty) who predeceased him in 2006.
Dr. Tobin graduated in 1953 from Xavier H.S, after which he continued his academic endeavors at Cathedral College and St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY. Later, he resided at the Pontifical North American College and pursued seminary and graduate studies at the Jesuit International Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. While there, he received his Doctor of Canon Law.
In 1970, he became Associate National Director of the Office of CCD-Religious Education at the Washington, DC based US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCC). There he was responsible for religious education programs at all levels nationwide and continued his involvement in ecumenical coalitions and groupings. During his tenure, he developed and chaired the largest and last National Congress of the CCD, attended by over 8,000 local and regional leaders and teachers in late October 1971. He also was National Secretary of the national ecumenical organization promoting study of the Bible in public schools.
In 1972, after having been approved by Pope Paul VI to return to the laity, he married Judith Lee Beves from Staten Island, NY. After relocating from New York to Northern Virginia, he spent his coming years as a Special Assistant in a number of Federal Departments/agencies, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Subsequently, he helmed several national trade and membership organizations and founded his own government relations practice whereby he represented a number of national small business organizations and citizen movement groups. In an issue close to his heart, Dr. Tobin spent several years supporting parent choice in education legislation at both the state and national levels.
As a staunch supporter of educational excellence, Dr. Tobin successfully led efforts to achieve the Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon School Of Excellence Award for Bishop O’ Connell High School and Corpus Christi school in Arlington and Falls Church, VA respectfully.
During the last 20 years, he returned to the field of Catholic adult religious education and started the Continuing Christian Development Institute (CCDI) which provided regional parish course offerings attended by over 1,000 Northern Virginia adults.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Bill often coached youth soccer and Junior CYO basketball for his children. He also participated regularly in the Northern Virginia swimming, diving and tennis programs. Dr. Tobin was active in AA for more than thirty years.
Bill is survived by his wife of 44 years, Judy, their three sons, and five grandchildren. He also has five nieces and nephews, children of his only sister, Maureen Tobin McNulty, of Greenlawn, NY.
