William L. “Bill” Haslam

William L. Haslam, 82, died in the hospital after a brief illness on Sunday, August 13, 2017.

Bill is survived by his wife Verna, daughter Susan, son James, stepdaughters Jacqueline and Jennifer, grandchildren Noelle, Will and Reed, step grandchildren Avery, Matthew, Gerry, Kendall, Teddy, Liberty, nephews David and John, and extended family. He was predeceased by his brother Richmond, his first wife Patricia, and parents William and Jessie. Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to all.

Bill grew up in East Providence, Rhode Island and spent most of his life living in Massachusetts.  His dad William worked as a milkman and a jeweler, and in his early life had played semi-pro baseball as a catcher and once caught Babe Ruth on a barnstorming tour. His mom Jessie, worked as a housekeeper, cook and loved throwing big community parties. Jessie strongly valued education and did everything she could to help get him into Brown University. He graduated Brown in 1956 and then enlisted in the National Guard before beginning a career in publishing.

He was an avid New England sports fan, having played high school, college and adult league sports. He was an inaugural season ticket holder of the Boston Patriots (before the renaming) and was in attendance when Ted Williams homered in his final game. He never thought he would see the Red Sox or Patriots win a championship, and short of the birth of his children and his love for his family, nothing made him happier than watching them win a total of eight titles between them starting in 2002.

Bill loved traveling, making new friends and spending time with family.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday 4-8 PM in the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene, 37 E. Elm Ave., QUINCY. Funeral service will be celebrated on Friday at 10 AM in Wollaston Church of the Nazarene, Quincy. Please send flowers directly to the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene.