Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKLAND - William Newman, 86 was called home to the Lord, peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, September 13, 2015.
Bill was born on March 9, 1929 in Saugus, Massachusetts, and grew up in Lynn. He proudly served our country in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1954.
The happiest day of his life was July 4, 1955 when he wed the love of his life, Mary Jane McDonald.
He joined the Metropolitan Police Department and was honored to have been the very first K-9 police officer in Washington DC. Bill and his dog, Mark, once had the privilege of guarding first lady Jaqueline Kennedy. Bill was retired from the police force in 1962 after suffering a broken neck while in pursuit of a criminal (whom he chased, caught and arrested even with a broken neck).
Later, Bill moved his family to Thomaston and worked as a door-to-door salesman with the Fuller Brush Company. Encouraged by his dear friend and brother-in-law, Charles Doyle, he became a master oil burner man and worked for Maritime Energy and Kalloch Fuel.
During the early 1970’s Bill and his family lived in Longwood Florida where he enjoyed working security at Walt Disney World.
In 1973, Bill moved to Crawford pond and remained there until all five of his children had graduated from high school.
In 1984 he and Jane, semi-retired and spent their winters working at Gasparilla Inn on Boca Grande island in Florida, while enjoying the rest of the year in Maine.
Bill’s favorite thing was to spend time with his family. He loved to watch his grandchildren play sports and was loved by all the children who patiently listened while he “coached” them.
August 2009 found Bill moving into Bartlett Woods Retirement community. He enjoyed his six years there making lots of friends with other resident’s and staff alike.
Bill loved sharing stories of his life and would eagerly bend the ear of anyone interested in listening. Bill enjoyed cooking, fishing, playing cribbage and most evenings could be found in front of his TV yelling at the Red Sox.
Bill was generous, humble and very much loved. His children were blessed to have an incredibly loving father who liked nothing more than simply spending time with them. While faced with many struggles throughout his life he always counted his blessings and would state “I’m such a lucky man”.
A special thank you to the staff at Bartlett Woods whom he loved and considered family. Thank you also to the Quarry Hill staff who cared for him during the last weeks of his life. A very special thank you to his hospice nurse, Valerie Despres, whom he loved and would greet her weekly with a “hi beautiful”. Val went above and beyond the call of duty in caring for Bill and would frequently bring her dog to visit him. Her kind heart and genuine caring brought great comfort to Bill and his family. The family cannot thank her enough.
Bill is pre-deceased by his parents Robert and Winifred Newman, his beautiful wife, Mary Jane Newman, brother Donald and sister Jean. He is survived by his five children, Robert Newman and his wife Susan, Judy Newman, Ellen Wood and her husband Jason, Diane Roberts and her husband Paul, and Kelly Newman; his eight grandchildren, Rebecca Barstow and her husband Chris, Justin Dever and his wife Erica, Kelli Rudolph and her husband Eric, John Wood and his fiancée Tiffany Nadeau, Britta Meyer, Cheyenne Veen, Wyatt Jackson and Samantha Roberts; his seven great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to visit from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland. Interment with Military Honors, will follow at Village Cemetery, Erin Street, Thomaston. The Reverend Dominic Azagbor will officiate.
To share a memory or condolence with Bill’s family, please visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

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