William J. "Bill" Kilroy Jr.

William J. "Bill" Kilroy, Jr. of Centerville, passed away on January 21, 2017. Born on January, 12, 1932 to William J. Kilroy and Mary E. (Arsenault) Kilroy. He earned his Bachelor's and Masters degrees in Education from UMass - Salem, where he was president of the Men's Athletic Association and an outstanding baseball player. He also played many seasons for the Chelsea Merchants in the popular twilight leagues of Greater Boston. He was selected to play for the Hearst All-Stars baseball squads, playing in Fenway Park and the former Boston Braves Field.

Bill did additional study at Boston University, Northeastern University and the Harvard University Trade Union Program. He served from 1953 to 1955 in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in West Berlin as a military photographer, contributing to Stars and Stripes and Berlin Observer newspapers. Following his discharge, he worked for the Chelsea Evening Record. He later worked for the United Fruit Company as a representative, throughtout New England and New York.

After teaching in the Somerville and Burlington, MA school systems, and serving as president of his local education associations, he was elected to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA). He became the MTA Director of Publications and Public Relations, and in the early 1970's Bill joined the professional staff of the National Education Association (NEA) where he served for 30 years, traveling the country and overseas, focusing on organizing, crisis management, communications and strategic planning.

He is survived by four children: Jane Switchenko (Michael) of Sturbridge, MA; Mary Kilroy of Arlington, MA; Patricia Papapietro of Sacramento, CA; and Christopher Kilroy (Amy) of Denver, CO. He also leaves eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. His three sisters, Adele Cataldo, Elinor Fletcher, and Jeanne Rowe preceded him in death. His brother James (Rose) of Salem, MA survives him.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2017 from 9-10:30 am at Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 160 W. Main Street, Hyannis, MA followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Victory Parish, 230 S. Main Street, Centerville, MA at 11:00 am. Committal Service will conclude at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601. For online condolences, please visit www.doanebealames.com.