Obituary of William F. Herzog

William Fleming “Bill” Herzog, 91, of The Villages, Fla., formerly of Narragansett, R.I., passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 23, 2023, at his home. 

 

Bill was born in Providence, R.I., to William and Anna Herzog on Jan. 30, 1932. He grew up on Academy Avenue in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Providence and went to high school at LaSalle Academy, graduating in 1949. Bill went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from Providence College in 1953 and that September entered the Marines as a sergeant, becoming a first lieutenant a year later and serving for another year before being honorably discharged. In 1957, he began his career as an engineer at Western Electric (later AT&T and Lucent Technologies) in North Andover, Mass., retiring in 1989.

 

Bill’s first and foremost love was his wife of 58 years, Jacqueline, whom he met while working at Western Electric. It was the love of a lifetime and he treated her like a queen. They settled in Reading, Mass., and raised a family of three children. When the kids left the nest, Bill and Jackie moved to Narragansett where they enjoyed seaside life near Sand Hill Cove (Roger Wheeler State Beach). It was here that they began a tradition of celebrating happy hour. When shared with family and friends, it was the best part of any day.

 

Among his many travels, Bill visited all 50 states and published a book in 2000 titled “Touring the State Capitols,” dedicating it to his grandfather, Maximilian, who as a stonecutter helped build the Rhode Island State House in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hard work with one’s hands was a way of life in Bill’s family. As a young man, he helped his father build their own house, a cape constructed of brick, on Delway Road in Cranston, R.I.

 

A few years after the publishing of the book, and having had their fill of cold weather and shoveling snow in Narragansett, Bill and Jackie moved to The Villages in Florida, where they hosted their visiting children and grandchildren for numerous visits to nearby Walt Disney World.

 

They returned every summer until a few years ago to camp in Narragansett at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park, using the van in which they had traveled about the country. Bill looked forward to gathering with his family around the campfire after a day at Sand Hill Cove, sharing freshly made s’mores after dinner. Fall, winter, and spring included additional trips north to watch his grandchildren participate in their various sporting events and school performances. At the family’s annual Christmas party, he delighted in donning Santa’s cap and reading “A Visit from St. Nicholas” to everyone.

 

Among the other loves of Bill’s life, aside from family, friends, travel, and times spent at the beach, was sports – baseball in particular and the Red Sox specifically. He was also known to enjoy doughnuts (preferably jelly or Boston cream) and a good clam cake. He was proud of his service to his country and even prouder of his children and grandchildren, to whom he was a beloved Pepere and superfan.

 

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his son, William (daughter-in-law Ann) of Wakefield, Mass.; daughters Debra O’Brien (son-in-law Raymond) of North Andover, Mass., and Katherine Knowles of Warwick, R.I.; his grandchildren Caroline, Yana, McKayla, and William Herzog of Wakefield, Katie and Jack O’Brien of North Andover, and Jeffrey Alves of Warwick. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Donald Watkins (sister-in-law Margaret), brother-in-law Ronald Veilleux, and sister-in-law June Watkins, all of The Villages; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends. He is predeceased by brothers-in-law Richard Watkins and Alfred Sciuto and sisters-in-law Joanne Sciuto and Arlene Veilleux.

 

A funeral service will be held at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Providence, R.I., on Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, R.I. Hoey-Arpin-Williams-King Funeral Home is handling the funeral arrangements.

 

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the nurses and staff of Vitas Hospice and Palliative Care of Lake and Sumter Counties in Florida.

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