William J. Healey, 1927–2025

William “Bill” J. Healey was a giant in the marine industry, a visionary who built the Viking Yacht Company from a modest wooden boat shop into a global leader in luxury fiberglass yachts. For five decades, he drove innovation, set new standards of quality and performance and never lost sight of the people who built the boats. Fiercely competitive yet deeply loyal, he was as devoted to his boatbuilders as he was to the company’s success.

Early Years

Born Nov. 6, 1927, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Bill was one of four brothers in the family of Patrick J. Healey Sr. and Loretta M. Healey. He grew up in southern New Jersey, attended Camden Catholic High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the final years of World War II. After his honorable discharge, he earned a degree in political science from St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia in 1951.

Bill began his career with his father at P.J. Healey Structural Steel in Atco, New Jersey. His focus soon shifted to the Jersey Shore, where, in 1964, he and his late brother, Robert “Bob” T. Healey Sr., founded Viking Yachts after acquiring Peterson-Viking, a small local boatbuilder in financial trouble.

Building Viking

Bill oversaw design, engineering and manufacturing as Viking grew through the 1960s and 1970s. He quickly saw the potential of fiberglass construction, introducing the Viking 40 Convertible in 1972, a model that established the company as a force in the industry.

Over the following decades, Viking expanded into an 880,000-square-foot facility on 55 acres in New Gretna, with multiple production lines capable of building up to 100 yachts a year. Nearly 90 percent of every yacht was produced in-house, an approach Bill insisted on to maintain quality and control. During Bill’s tenure, more than 4,500 boats were delivered – a number (now 6,000) that cemented Viking’s standing as an industry-leading company. Viking also built service and sales facilities in Florida, expanding on its commitment to vertical integration.

One of the most visible symbols of Viking’s rise under Bill’s leadership was the water tower that stands at the New Gretna plant. Bill purchased the tower at an auction, moved it to the factory grounds and had it rebuilt. The tower – visible from the Garden State Parkway – stands as an enduring icon of the company and South Jersey.

Leadership and Culture

Bill’s leadership was marked by energy, persistence and personal connection. A common sight – and one that has become legendary – was Bill riding his bicycle around the plant to oversee production. He spent much of his time on the factory floor, checking progress and encouraging his people. Each evening, he stood at the door to thank workers as they left. He knew the names of hundreds of carpenters, electricians and outfitters – often those of their family members as well.

He reminded his people: “You don’t work for Bill Healey; you work with Bill Healey.” To back up that philosophy, he established a factory health department that gave employees and their families free on-site medical care.

Resilience and Innovation

In 1991, Viking faced its greatest challenge when a federal luxury tax on boats over $100,000 crippled sales. Production came to a halt, and the workforce fell from more than 1,500 to fewer than 100. Bill held firm, kept the company alive and when the tax was repealed in 1993, he led Viking’s recovery.

He also drove innovation. Viking invested in a five-axis CNC machine for precision manufacturing, built a tri-generation plant to supply power and climate control, installed a wastewater treatment facility and added solar panels to reduce environmental impact.

Recognition and Impact

Bill’s achievements brought broad recognition. He was named Ernst & Young New Jersey Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998, inducted into the National Marine Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame in 2003 and received the Press of Atlantic City’s Bailey Award in 2004 for community contributions. In 2024, he was inducted into the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Beyond awards, Bill left his mark through loyalty, determination and a competitive drive that lifted Viking and helped shape the modern yacht industry.

Bill’s passion for Viking was tied closely to the people who owned the boats. He formed lasting friendships with Viking owners, welcoming them to the factory and celebrating with them at Viking rendezvous events in picturesque locations like Nantucket. For Bill, Viking was always about more than building yachts – it was about the trust, camaraderie and shared pride he felt with the families who chose to own them.

Family and Personal Life

Bill was equally passionate about his family. Known affectionately as “Dukes” from his early years as a boxer, he carried that toughness and spirit throughout his life. He met Mary Frances “Sissy” King on Windsor Beach in Cape May in 1955 and proposed to her on their first date. She told him to wait a year and ask again – which he did – and they were married in 1956. Together they shared 62 years of marriage, raising three children, Mary “Missy,” Patrick “Pat” and Katherine “Kathy,” and later welcoming six grandchildren, Erin, Sean, Justin, Allie, Kaitlyn and A.J.

Winters often found Bill skiing with his children and grandchildren in the Poconos, Vermont and Utah, while summers were spent in Cape May, where he biked to his favorite beach and rode waves for hours before enjoying a plate of fresh Jersey clams. On Saturday nights, he and Sissy were fixtures at the Corinthian Yacht Club, where he was the first on the dance floor and the last to leave. Valhalla, his personal Viking yacht, was a source of joy, especially when he cruised with his grandchildren on summer trips.

Health and discipline guided his daily life. He started each morning with push-ups and sit-ups and lived by his mantra of “no nicotine, no caffeine.” A devout Catholic, he was faithfully at Sunday Mass whether at home, at a boat show or traveling overseas.

Friends, family and employees admired his confidence, generosity and one-of-a-kind personality. To many in the Viking family, Bill was more than a leader – he was a second father.

Later Years and Legacy

Pat has carried his father’s vision and taken Viking to another level, guided by the same values of hard work, commitment and doing things the right way. Kathy has an unshakable passion for Viking and has been a tireless supporter and champion of the name.

Bill lived to see the third generation of Healeys step into the company – to his great delight. Sean, Justin and Kaitlyn now work alongside their father Pat in sales and marketing and represent Viking at tournaments, boat shows and other events. Their mother, Leanne, has been a steady source of support and has close ties with Viking owners in her own right. Kathy and her children – Erin, Allie and A.J. – have also been welcomed faces at Viking gatherings such as the Viking Key West Challenge, carrying on the family’s tradition of support.

For Bill, Viking was never just a business. It was family, both by blood and by the generations of craftsmen who built the boats. It was the product, refined and improved with every hull and every model. And it was the passion that fueled him every day. His life’s work and his legacy endure in the company’s timeless mantra – building a better boat every day.