William "Bill" Joseph Corcoran

William “Bill” Corcoran, 83, passed away on August 2nd at his home in Washington, DC. The youngest of six, Bill was born to Dr. William and Mabel Corcoran on Sunday, October 4th, 1942, in Scranton, PA. He graduated from the University of Scranton with an AB in Classics and English and received his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. He was the Legal Officer at the U.S. Naval Station in San Diego, as well as serving in other assignments in U.S. Navy JAG. After leaving the Navy, he embarked on a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice. He was described as the department’s “soul of ethics” and was known as a generous mentor to new department lawyers.

Bill also served for five years as Counsel for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He was an instructor at the Department of Justice Advocacy Institute and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy programs. For his distinguished service, he was awarded the Department of Justice’s prestigious Henry E. Peterson Memorial Award.

After leaving government service he volunteered with the NGO Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF), supporting anti-corruption efforts around the world. Bill was also the founding member of the LGBTQIA+ Ministry at Holy Trinity Parish in Georgetown DC.

For many years, Bill and his husband have hosted their famous Christmas Party, which included decorating the Taft Bridge Lions on Connecticut Avenue. He was a wonderful friend to all he knew. He was gentle, warm, caring and exceedingly loyal.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his brother John Corcoran and his sisters Jane Briggs, Rosemary Newberry and her husband Joe, and Alice Holmes and her husband John. He is survived by his husband Eric L Palladini, Jr., his sister Nancy Monti and her husband Tom of Syracuse, NY, his sister-in-law Madolyn “Mickey” Corcoran of Lancaster PA, his brother-in-law Graham Briggs of Needham, MA, and numerous nephews and nieces all of whom loved and admired him for his sunny personality and capacity for fun.

The visitation will take place on August 20th at DeVol Funeral Home 2222 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington DC between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. Free valet parking will be available. The Funeral Mass will take place at Holy Trinity Parish at 3513 N St NW in Georgetown, DC on August 21st at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to send a donation to the Sisters of IHM, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton , PA 18509.