William Bruce Archer's Obituary
Miami, Fla - Miami native Bill Archer, 65, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025. Bill was known as the face and culinary expert of The Big Cheese, as well as its co-founder 41 years ago, alongside his best friend and business partner, Garry Duell Jr.
Bill was born on November 2, 1959, to Bill Archer Sr. (National Airlines Senior Pilot) and Gloria Archer in Miami. He attended Ludlum Elementary School, Miami Christian Middle School, and Miami Killian High School.
He began his illustrious career in the restaurant industry, working at Chicken Unlimited and later at Parentis Pizza. When it was time for college, he moved to California to live with his brother Jim and attended the College of Marin. While attending school, he landed a job with Dario's Pizza, the biggest pizza company in San Francisco at the time. It was there that he honed his outstanding pizza-making skills, as Dario's sold approximately 5,000 pizzas every weekend.
He returned to Miami in 1980 with the ultimate goal of opening his own restaurant. While working at Poopsies Pizza (now Walls Ice Cream), Bill discovered that Poopsies was moving. He called his longtime friend Garry Duell Jr. to partner and open The Big Cheese in 1984, which started as a 20-seat restaurant. In 1992, The Big Cheese moved across the street to a larger location, and the rest is history. Over the years, Bill won numerous awards for Best Caesar Salad in Miami, Best Pizza Restaurant in Miami, and Best Inexpensive Italian Restaurant in New Times.
Bill was extremely generous and helped charities, schools, and people in need whenever asked. In particular, he loved the University of Miami and provided many pizza and pasta dishes to the school's teams, helping keep them fueled. He had relationships with all of the coaches, players, and faculty over the years. In fact, Bill earned three national championship rings for being an integral part of the teams.
He enjoyed boating and was an avid fisherman who caught his share of Mahi-mahi. He loved scuba diving and wreck diving in the Keys. Bill grew up boating on Biscayne Bay, as his dad had a cabin cruiser, which he used to take his son fishing, diving, and enjoying the many University Yacht Club rendezvous.
Bill deeply loved his family. He is survived by his wife, Roxanne; daughters Skylar, Alex, and Sammy; grandson Lucas; and his brother Jim, who resides in Texas. His first daughter, his beloved Michelle, tragically passed away a few years ago.
Bill will be deeply missed by all who loved him. The Big Cheese Restaurant is part of Bill's legacy and will continue with his recipes, business practices, and goodwill in the community.
Bill Archers Celebration of Life: March 14th @1:00 p.m., at Christ The King Lutheran Church, 11295 SW 57TH AVE Miami, FL.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by the Miami Herald from Mar. 1 to Mar. 8, 2025.
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