William L. "Bill" Pereira, Jr.

William L. “Bill” Pereira, Jr., a lifelong adventurer, devoted family man, and passionate entrepreneur, passed away peacefully in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the age of 87.

Born on September 22, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, Bill was the son of renowned architect William Pereira Sr.—designer of such iconic landmarks as the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art—and Margaret McConnell Pereira, a model and actress. Shortly after his birth, the Pereira family relocated to Los Angeles, where Bill spent his formative years.

A graduate of Stanford University (Class of 1959, Political Science) and Harvard Business School’s Executive Program, Bill’s life was defined by bold moves, big ideas, and a relentless pursuit of joy. In 1961 at a friend’s wedding, he met Susan Errett Cord—the daughter of aviation and automotive pioneer Errett Lobban Cord—on a blind date. Three months later, they married and embarked on a 53-year journey together that led them through Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, Santa Ynez, Sun Valley, and Reno, before Bill ultimately settled in Chapel Hill following Susan’s passing in 2015.

Bill’s professional life was anything but conventional. He began as a reporter for Newsweek, but quickly realized he was meant to chart his own course. In the mid-1960s, he co-founded Air California, a intrastate airline that first flew between Orange County and San Francisco. Following the sale of the airline in 1970, he and Susan launched Pereira Arabians in Santa Ynez, California—an Arabian horse breeding and sales operation that became one of the most successful in the country. Bill authored the “The Majestic World of Arabian Horses” published by Abrams in 1986.

When changes to federal tax law rocked the horse industry, Bill pivoted again—this time to his lifelong passion: baseball. As Chairman of Diamond Sports, he and partners owned and operated several minor league baseball teams, including the Boise Hawks (Northwest League), El Paso Diablos (Texas League), and Sioux City Explorers (Northern League). In 2000, he was honored with the Joe Martin Award by the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues for his outstanding contributions to the sport.

Bill’s love for sports didn’t stop with teams he operated. He was also a shareholder in the Idaho Steelheads (ECHL), the Idaho Sneakers (World Team Tennis), the Spokane Chiefs (WHL), and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (California League).

A dedicated civic leader, Bill served on the boards of the Cate School in Carpinteria, CA; the UCI Foundation in Irvine, CA; the Nevada Museum of Art; and the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra. To those who knew him, Bill was larger than life—an endlessly entertaining storyteller with a sharp wit, a love for playing piano, an incurable sweet tooth, and a deep affection for sailboats. But more than anything else, Bill loved baseball, and he passed that passion on to his children and grandchildren, who carry the torch with pride.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Susan Errett Cord Pereira. He is survived by his five children: Virginia Pereira Dirschl(Durham, NC); William Cord Pereira (Puerto Vallarta, MX); Philip Kirk Pereira (Puerto Vallarta, MX); Patrick Clay Pereira (Irvine, CA); and Susan Pereira Wilsey (Irvine, CA).

He also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Katherine Cord Walton (Durham, NC); Douglas Kirk Dirschl (Annapolis, MD); Margaret Alexandra Dirschl (Brooklyn, NY); Haddon Cord Pereira (Los Angeles, CA); William Mason Pereira (Golden, CO); Charles Cord Pereira (Los Angeles, CA); Rocco Errett Wilsey (Santa Barbara, CA); Oliver Cord Wilsey and Beau Christopher Wilsey (Irvine, CA).

Bill’s legacy continues through his three great-grandchildren: William Errett Walton and Harriet Cord Walton (Durham, NC); and Halston James Pereira (Golden, CO).

He is also survived by his sister, Monica Isabel Pereira of Scottsdale, AZ.

A celebration of Bill’s extraordinary life will be held in the near future. Details to follow.

In lieu of flowers or donations, Bill's children and grandchildren request that you take your family to a baseball game and say a prayer for "Big Smoke”.