Tyau was born with Down Syndrome, but his friends say he led a full life and was an example of what a person with mental retardation can accomplish.

In 1968, a 17-year-old Tyau was one of the first athletes to join the Special Olympics Hawai'i program. Tyau was the first from Hawai'i to be trained as a "Global Messenger" and he became known for his inspirational talks about his experiences in Special Olympics.

Special Olympics President Nancy Bottelo said Tyau as a good friend who was witty and a rascal.

"He was very loving, and if half the normal people were as kind and loving as he was, this world would just be a better place," Bottelo said.

Tyau was an avid swimmer and competed in the 1970 International Games in Chicago. At the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Connecticut, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, which he said was his proudest moment.

Tyau was an eloquent speaker who wrote his own speeches and served as a spokesman for Special Olympics. Bottelo said Tyau joined Toastmasters International to hone his speaking skills.

Bottelo said Tyau touched the lives of people in her organization, as well as in the public.

"I got a couple of phone calls from parents who have children who are much younger than Bill who had Down Syndrome and they told me that to them, Bill had always given them hope because they would see how independent and how strong and how verbal and vocal he was, and it gave them hope that their kids would grow up to be like that, too," Bottelo said.

"I knew he touched the lives of all the volunteers and our staff and his friends, but I didn't even realize that he was a shining example for parents who had younger kids who were in the same situation."

Tyau is survived by his mother, Eleanor; sister, Christine Maguire; and cousin, Carlene Wolf, who was Tyau's co-guardian.