Obituary: Retired Woburn Educator William J. "Bill" McNeil, Jr., 65

From the Lynch-Cantillan Funeral Home:

William J. “Billy” McNeil, Jr., a very well-respected lifelong resident of Woburn passed away after a lengthy illness on August 12. The beloved son of the late William J. and Sara (Murphy) McNeil was sixty five years of age.

Born in Woburn, he attended St Charles Elementary School and then Boston College High School, graduating with the Class of 1966. He went on to Boston College where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, in 1970. While attending college, “Billy” as he was affectionately known by family and friends, found himself the perfect summer job at Fenway Park with his beloved Red Sox. Selling “peanuts, hot dogs and coke, “Billy” was as much a part of the Red Sox in the stands as he would have been on the bench! 

Following college he began an absolutely wonderful career, which spanned over thirty-four years in the Woburn Public School System. Teaching Math at the John F. Kennedy Junior High School and endless hours in all the different areas of sports throughout the Middle Schools and the High School.

Billy was soon assigned the position of Faculty Manager for both Junior High Schools and when the ninth grade shifted to the High School, so did Billy as the Faculty Manager for Woburn High School. Billy attended, without exaggeration, every WHS sporting event during his tenure. Not only was he there, but often he would have provided transportation for a few of the athletes late to practice fields or arenas while having helped them with their studies after school.

Year after year Billy devoted endless hours to the Woburn Boys and Girls Club. There he volunteered, tutoring children in math or any other subject for that matter and also assisted in planning, organizing and chaperoning dances and events.

Billy, throughout his life, was a very dedicated son, brother, nephew, and cousin. The stories are abounding. Not one to travel afar, Billy did travel as far as the Middlesex League took him! Always surrounded by family and friends, he shared a very special bond with all collectively, but each individually.

Billy was a truly wonderful person, sharing a beautiful presence amongst his family, colleagues, students, athletes and their families. Not only to his family, but to each and every man, woman and child that had the distinct pleasure and honor of knowing this remarkable man, Billy will always be remembered with a smile.

In addition to his parents, Billy was predeceased by his dear sister Margaret “Margy” McNeil, who passed away just seven weeks ago. He is lovingly survived by his dear aunt Sr. Kathleen Murphy OSF, and his lovingly devoted cousins, the Brogna’s, Marashio’s, Hogan’s, Murphy’s, Grant’s and Currier’s.

Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Monday, August 19th at 10:45 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 11:30 a.m. Interment is private. Calling hours on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. Remembrances may be made in Billy's memory to the Woburn High School Scholarship Fund in Memory of William J. "Billy" McNeil, Jr., PO Box 202, Woburn, MA 01801.