Bill, aka DJ Heavy B, was born on March 9 ,1968 in Terrace Heights Hospital, Queens, New York and passed away unexpectedly on September 7, 2024, in Sanford, Florida. He was the 2nd child of 2 children born to William J. McLaughlin and Ginny McLaughlin (Butler).
Bill enjoyed his Shop Class and Computer Classes in school and was a “Car Junkie” early on. He loved cars, music and computers – not necessarily in that order. When he was about 10, he took apart the family lawn mower and told us not to worry, he could put it back together – and so he did. That was the groundwork for rebuilding engines etc.
He loved waterskiing early on and was learning to barefoot ski but was not happy when he broke his arm and couldn’t ski one summer. When he was older, he bought a boat and would head out into the deep-sea fishing with his buddies.
Bill always had many friends with similar interests and was always ready to help, share his expertise on many subjects and was teased about setting up an ASKBILL.COM site since everyone always “asked” Bill! They were and still are a tight group of friendly renegades having fun, racing cars, boating, trips together, etc. always ready to help one another – all for one – one for all!
We moved to Casselberry, FL and his history with Semoran Skateway began. He loved to skate, speed skate and then graduated to the sound booth to continue his chapter as Bill McLaughlin – DJ Heavy B. He developed many, many relationships there that continue today.
There were road trips to races, car shows, or just to travel cross country to help his friends. Bill had a love for cruising and of course a favorite travel destination of Gatlinburg, TN. Bill and Jan were to leave for Gatlinburg on Thursday, September 12, 2024, but unfortunately life took an unexpected turn that would end the journey. Someone said God must have needed a mechanic – and that DJ Heavy B received his golden turntable in the sky.
Bill is survived by his mother, Ginny Butler, his sweet life partner, Jan Habraken and her daughter Paige and son Brendan, his sister Beth Pearson, brother-in-law Jim, two nephews Jared and Joshua, his Uncle Buddy, cousins Adam and Matthew and their families, and the fearsome four – Jamie, Rob, Bobby and Karl among many, many other friends.
I was blessed to be his mom – and he was such a blessing to so many. We are all in shock over the sudden event, but Bill will live on in our hearts, our memories and our love for him and his love for us and one day we will see him again. For now, I know my mom is happy to see him and my Granddaughter Krystina.
I already miss him so much and kept expecting him to walk in any moment and be at work in his office, or out in his shop, or planning his next escapade.
Each one of them left at young ages, but it’s not always the quantity of life but the quality of life and living each day to the fullest as if it were your last day. No one knows the day or the hour when the Lord will call us so we must always be ready.
Please join us for the Celebration of Life for Bill McLaughin, aka DJ Heavy B, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, 2:00 PM– 5:00 PM
Bring your stories and memories to an Open Mic Celebration of Life for the best son a mom could ask for!!!
Location: Loomis Funeral Home
420 West Main Street
Apopka, FL 32712
In lieu of flowers , donations to the family would be appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-bill-mclaughlin-funeral-services-support?qid=405b8d76f4295d7c09dc1c93ba9bf900
Service
Visitation
Loomis Funeral Home
420 W. Main Street, Apopka, Florida 32712
September 21, 2024
2:00pm - 5:00pm
This heritage started 67 years ago with Pastor Herbert F. Loomis, who founded the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1934. In 1938 Francis E. Loomis, son of Pastor Herbert F. Loomis, received his license to practice Mortuary Science and in 1941 established Loomis Funeral Home of Winter Garden, FL. 
420 W Main St
Apopka, FL 32712-3452
Joanne and Warren Stines says
Dear Ginny and family…I am so sorry for the loss of your son…he had to be special for God to take him so soon. My heart breaks for you and for all those who knew and loved Bill. May God give you strength and comfort you in this difficult time. 💔❤️🙏🙏🙏
john lochnicht says
words fail me , wishing any words could give relief during your time of grief . thou ive only known bill for a short time compared to most , but. bill was always good to me and i see him as the salt of the earth ! inside i was so happy to know he had met jan and was enjoying happiness of being a couple . to see their posts of cruises and dinners with friends , from birthdays to just dinner with friends .
bill servers as an example of a true friend . gods speed bill you are truly a good friend to so many .
Beth Gonzalez says
Bill a long time friend who we met through Rob Patton over 30 years. He was such a gentle, kind man I could trust to take my young preteen girls to the skating rink with him and know they were safe. Bill will be missed as he’s one of a kind, very talented gentle man with a smile to offer always. We love you Bill. My deepest condolences to the families.
Brenda Straub says
I am sorry for the loss of your son, Pastor Ginny. Bill truly was the apple of your eye. Praying for comfort at this time of unspeakable loss. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Soon and very soon we shall be caught up together with Lord. Thanks be to God our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Amen.
Linda Esposito says
My deepest condolences to you my cousin Ginny and your entire family. May happy memories help guide you through this terrible loss. I’ll keep all of you in my prayers
Jason Kantarjian says
I am SHOCKED! Just literally found out about this 20 minutes ago. I FEEL SO BAD FOR NOT BEEING HERE TODAY OR EVEN KNOWING ABOUT THIS. WE ALL LOVED YOU BROTHER AND YOU WILL BE MISSED. not for what you did for us, but for just being our friend post things but I do not surf Facebook. This will tell you what kind of man Heavy B is.
My friend lived across the street from Bill and I was about to build my truck. But I wanted the new Vortec engine that had just come out. You could not buy them. So my friend says I bet my neighbor can get you one. Well he did. He knew a guy. lol
Now at that time I did not have all the tools , engine hoist etc. to do the job plus bill was going to put a cam and do some head work.
Bill had never met me or seen me one day in his life. He told me I have to work but just bring your truck over and use all my Snap On tools and anything you need. Do not think he planned on it being a two week job. Lmao. Like who would do that? Leave $50,000 worth of tools and his house wide open. Now I will say I did almost take his Camero with the 454 in it. That was about 30 years ago. And yes I every now and then I would dial up askBILL. Going to miss him every time I drive by there going to my other buddy’s shop. GODSPEED BILL