Partner William Plath

Queer Places:
814 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Saint Marys Cemetery Wenona, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA

William J. "Billy" Brunski (April 22, 1920 - July 17, 1995), William Plath and Dick Rousseau bought the Victorian at 814 Grove Street in 1957, for $13,000. Because the three gay men were white, the 800 block of Grove was spared from being included in the city's redevelopment plans for the area, said Michael Nelson Finn, a gay man and performance artist who in the early 2000s inherited the home from the men. He had befriended Plath and later became his caretaker. The Plath household consisted of Bill Brunski, Plath’s first lover and lifelong friend, and his second lover, Dick Rousseau. The three of them were generous to a fault, always helping gay men and women in need. Bill Brunski passed away first, and Dick Rousseau died 4 years after. Bill never got over the passing of Dick, and died two years later.

Brunski was born on April 22, 1920, in Wenona, Illinois, the son of Edgar J. Brunski and Caroline Dolinar. He was a graduate of Wenona schools and Loyola University, Chicago. He served in the Army during World War II. He was a sergeant with the 17th Armored Field Artillery, 2nd Armored Division. He was employed by Pacific Bell Telephone Co., San Francisco, until his retirement.

William J. Brunski died on July 17, 1995, at his home. He was cremated and burial was in the family plot in St. Mary's Cemetery, Wenona.

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