 William Baumgartner was born in College Point, Queens, New York City, New York, United States, to William Lawrence Baumgartner and Elizabeth (née Wurtz) Baumgartner.He attended St. Fidelis School, the parochial elementary school of St. Fidelis Parish in College Point, and already had decided to become a Capuchin friar by the time he was to start high school.He boarded at St. Lawrence College in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, a seminary high school run by Capuchin Franciscans.