Longtime Laguna Beach resident was ‘the Wiz’

A celebration of life will be held for William Lee Roetzer at 2 p.m. Saturday at Sara Thurston Park, off Laguna Canyon Road at Milligan Drive in Laguna Beach.

Roetzer, a longtime Laguna Beach resident, died of cancer April 3 at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. He was 66.

Roetzer, a.k.a. “Will” or “Billy,” was born June 5, 1940, in Aura, Ill. He served in the U.S. Navy and later found his way to Laguna, where he lived for more than 25 years. In his earlier years, he was an avid body surfer.

Roetzer had many incarnations in Laguna Beach. He was known as “the Wiz” when he had a window-washing business called the Window Wizard.

He was also a craftsman, artist, fine woodworker and master sign maker. His handcrafted signs can still be found in South Orange County. In his final years, he was also a healer, metaphysician and alternative therapist.

Roetzer also voluntarily took on the job of caring for the James Dilley Preserve sign at El Toro and Laguna Canyon roads, making sure it was painted and protected.