1922 - 2016
Visitation
June 28, 201610:00 to 11:00 AM
Dolan Funeral Home
Funeral
June 28, 201611:00 AM
Dolan Funeral Home
William J. Clancy died peacefully on June 22, 2016 surrounded by his family at Cornerstone at Canton, an Alzheimer’s center located in Canton, MA. Bill would have celebrated his 94th birthday next month.
Born in Lowell, MA on July 21, 1922, Bill was the only son of Francis C. Clancy and Elizabeth (Soroghan) Clancy. He was a 1940 graduate of Keith Academy in Lowell.
Bill served in the military for several years shortly after WW II. He was a Staff Sargent and earned ribbons and medals for his role in the Army, most of which was spent in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre in Korea.
Shortly after returning home from military service, in 1950, Bill married Grace Harriet (Driscoll) Clancy, who predeceased him in 2011. Bill and Grace made their home in North Chelmsford, MA for nearly all of their 62-year marriage. His career was largely spent working in a variety of posts at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA. He retired from MIT in 1984 after a quarter century of service.
Bill is survived by his daughter Ellen Clancy and son-in-law Peter Doyle of Sherborn, MA, and his son William J. Clancy and daughter-in-law Bonnie Clancy, as well as four grandchildren, Lily, Henry, Hampton, and Owen Clancy, all of Walla Walla, Washington. Bill also leaves many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Wake Tues. 10 to 11 AM followed by a Funeral Service at 11AM at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, MA. Burial in Fairview Cemetery, N. Chelmsford. Memorials may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.
Martha Armstrong Gray
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Dear Ellen and Clancy Family, my deepest sympathy for your loss. What can one say? Like so many of our dads’ generation (mine too) they lived such generous lives and gave much to their country, community and family. I never got to meet William, but judging on what a wonderful person his daughter is, he must have been pretty special too. Peace.
Jean Schissel
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Dear Bill and Ellen,
I am so sorry that I couldn’t get to Dolan’s today to express my sympathies on the passing of your Dad. I know it is never an easy task to say goodby to parents, but both of yours are reunited in spirit. God Bless you all. Jean
Moreen (Cook) Crum
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Ellen and Bill,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I always loved your parents and looked forward to seeing them during my visits to Nana and Gramps’ house. Losing a parent is never easy, but you can take comfort that they are reunited and in God’s house.
Love, hugs and prayers to all of you,
Moreen
Dee Dee Rothery
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Ellen, I was so sorry to hear about Bill’s death. The men’s table at Cornerstone is missing two great guys (my dad passed shortly after yours). Part of my mourning process is not seeing family members like you when visiting my dad. I hope our paths cross again.
Dorothy (Ayotte) Sapienza
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I did not know your Dad, but was a student of your mother’s when I was in the 4th grade at North School… like thousands of other kids, I assume. I loved your mom so much…she taught me some very valuable lessons including ones about being kind and the love of reading… two of the most priceless gifts I could have ever received; they stay with me to this day. You have my condolences, it is so very hard when our second parent goes to be with the first… they are happy in heaven, but we are left without our anchor… Blessings to all of you.