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WILLIAM MCDERMOTT Obituary

McDERMOTT, Atty. William A. Jr. Suddenly, in South Boston, formerly of Dorchester and West Roxbury, February 27th. Beloved father of Liam and his wife Tara McDermott of Medway, and Deirdre and her husband Auston Habershaw of Dorchester. Brother of John D. McDermott of West Roxbury, and Helen McDermott and her partner Kathy Meisl of Waltham. Bill loved being "pop" to his growing list of grandchildren, including Maeve P. and Bridget O. McDermott, and Madelyn C. Habershaw. Former husband of Cathleen M. Meade of Dorchester. Visiting hours in the Murphy Funeral Home, 1020 Dorchester Ave., DORCHESTER, Sunday 2-6 P.M. Funeral Mass in St. Margaret Church of Blessed Mother Teresa Parish, Monday morning, March 4, at 10 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Bill was a graduate of Boston Latin School Class of '64, Boston College Class of '68, and Suffolk University Law School. He was a partner at Sullivan and McDermott, West Roxbury. Bill was a member of the Democratic State Committee, former City of Boston Election Commissioner, member of the Boston Redevelopment Authority Board of Directors, and the former Chelsea City Solicitor. He was regarded as the state's premier election law attorney. Bill was an avid Boston College Hockey fan and member of the L Street Brownies. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to the South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 236, South Boston, MA 02127. Interment in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury. For directions and guestbook, www.jmurphyfh.com. Funeral Home handicapped accessible with ample parking.

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Published by Boston Globe from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for WILLIAM MCDERMOTT

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Cindy Shinners

February 22, 2019

Such a great guy & very much missed

Donny Walsh

March 6, 2013

Liam and Deidre, very sorry to hear about your Dad. I have many great memories of him in Savin Hill. He was a great guy.

March 5, 2013

Dearest Helen, So sorry about the sudden loss of your brother. Larry and I are sending all our love and warm hugs. Mary and Larry

Matt McGrath

March 4, 2013

My condolences to Bill's family (and my friend Jerry Sullivan). Bill was a fine lawyer, a nice man, and a fellow BLS Alum. God Bless.

Clifford Ageloff

March 4, 2013

It was an honor and gift to have known Bill in the short time we worked together. I will miss his humor, insights and stories. My deepest condolences to his family; he will no doubt be forever missed by many.

J Lowe

March 4, 2013

Deirdre and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I met Bill many times at our civic meetings in the Polish Triangle. He always made me laugh....he was very funny and smart...which is an amazing combo. He will be greatly missed by the community. Remember all the great times that you had with him...I am sure you have many. Deirdre, you are such a good person, and I know he was proud of who you have become.

Cindy Shinners

March 3, 2013

Such a good friend to many, you will be missed RIP, God Bless your family at this difficult time.

June Cotter-Lanctot

March 3, 2013

To the McDermott Family;
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

Ed Mullaney

March 3, 2013

John, sorry to hear about your brother. My condolences.

Maura Hennigan

March 3, 2013

My deepest sympathy on the loss of Bill. He has been a good friend for many years. I will miss him. Please know you are all in my prayers.

Brad Bannon

March 3, 2013

Bill was a class act. One of the best people I have known

Joseph Zadroga

March 2, 2013

Bill was one of my best friends during the elementary school years. A bunch of us would play pick-up baseball, stickball, all the games that kids used to play way back in the 50's. Even though I moved out of Dorchester many years ago, I never forgot him. I send you my condolences.

Jeanne Alexande

March 2, 2013

Dear Helen
So sorry to hear of the loss of your brother, I knew you from the pushcart days and hope you are well. With sympathy Jeanne Alexander

Frank Connaughton

March 2, 2013

A superlative attorney and a salt of the earth friend ! God bless him .

Lisa McDonald Valdario

March 2, 2013

I want to express my sincerest condolensces to Bill's family and his long-time partner Jerry Sullivan. I had the pleasure of working with Bill and Jerry for many years. Both dedicated, humble and team players. A great loss. Bill will be truly missed. His smile was infectious. RIP, Bill

Richard Connon

March 2, 2013

Bill appeared before me on several occasions in a disputed election case on the Cape. He was always prepared,respectful and a pleasure to observe as he plied his exceptional talents in representing his client. God bless Bill and his family. Hon. Richard F.Connon (Ret.)

Brian Wallace

March 2, 2013

I will forever miss our talks on hockey, politics and his family, which were the most important things to Bill. He was a simple man with a brilliant mind and my heart goes out to Deidre. Liam and his Grandchildren who will never know what a very special Grandfather they had. Thank you for always being there for me Bill. I will miss you

George Bukuras

March 2, 2013

Genuine character, grand mind, gentle soul, good friend, great loss.

Burt Nadler

March 2, 2013

Our thoughts about Billy are of extraordinary intelligence, a wry and always delightful sense of humor, and of never tiring in his pursuit of justice. My memories of Billy are vast and varied, but always with joy, as Billy was a wonderful colleague, a worthy opponent and an extraordinary human being. He is already missed.

March 2, 2013

To Billy's family: He was the best. We've know Billy for some twenty years and consider him a friend. We will miss his humor and good will.
Jim and Carol McG. - Lawrence

Bill Silvestri

March 2, 2013

To the McDermott family: My thoughts and prayers are with you. Billy and I shared a great affinity for the ocean. As we waded in the water, he often talked about his children and grandchildren. He will be sorely missed.

Jinny McCulloch

March 1, 2013

Above and beyond all the well deserved accolades Billy has received, his amazing children, Liam McDermott and Deirdre Habershaw, are his finest legacy.

paul mccaffrey

March 1, 2013

Bill will be missed by all who knew him. I worked with bill years ago and had not seen him in manny years.
i recently called on him for advice.
he never forgott,and he was there to help. My thoughts are with him and his family

March 1, 2013

Hello to the Family,
Just a few words of cheer- in so much sorrow- I was a classmate of Bill's at BLS. He was a great touch football player! He was quick and boy did he enjoy himself on the field. He was always yelling something to cheer us on! I'm sure he is still fighting for you all from Heaven. ----Mr T. BLS 64 (Senior Master -1970-2004) He was a great kid!

Bruce Stebbins

March 1, 2013

To the McDermott Family - Your dad was so helpful to me in a case almost 20 years ago. He helped a young candidate for office and showed such respect and interest in me that I did not feel like I was just a client. I join with my family in sending along our most sincere condolences and prayers at this very difficult time.

March 1, 2013

My thoughts and prayers are for the McDermott family... a longtime friend and co-worker. A great person and will surely be missed. Dave Finnegan

christine carney

March 1, 2013

To the McDermott Family
You are in my thoughts and prayers
May he Rest in Peace!

March 1, 2013

To The McDermott Family,Sorry for the terrible loss of your Dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. The Smith Family,OFD Manor Street.

Tom McGrath

March 1, 2013

Sincere sympathy to the McDermott family. It was an honor to know Bill on the Democratic State Committee.

Alan Ronkin

March 1, 2013

Billy was a good friend who stood up for justice and those he cared about. RIP

Mike Hanlon

March 1, 2013

Dear McDermott Family,
I had the honor of meeting and working with Billy during the Mayor White Administration. Billy wasn't a politican, he was a gentleman. Ever so calm when presented with an issue, and ever so helpful. Throughout the years, I called on Billy seeking the best election lawyer in the State, or we met with our mutual friend, Jack McElligott, and talk about an upcoming campaign. Billy represented trust in the tough game of politics, and I'm so honored to have met Billy and have him as a friend. May God Bless Billy and his family.

Howard Wayne

March 1, 2013

RIP my friend. Neither hockey nor genuine politics will be the same without you.

Jim Henry

March 1, 2013

To the McDermott Family:

So sorry for your loss,my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Bill was a class guy all the way !! Smart, funny.....knew everybody and was loved by all. They'll never be another, R.I.P. Bill

Ryan and Shaobei Daniels

March 1, 2013

Please accept our condolences and sympathies on your loss. We will be praying for your family during this difficult time.

Caitlin Desmond

March 1, 2013

I got to know Mr. McDermott during the recount of my father's alderman election in 1999. I distinctly remember him taking the time to talk with me and patiently answer all of my questions...never talking down to me or making me feel like I didn't have a right to be involved...which was a somewhat rare thing as a 17 year old girl. Feeling very lucky that I got to cross paths with him. He was a great man. My sincerest sympathies to the McDermott family.

March 1, 2013

To our McDermott cousins and their families,you are in our thoughts and prayers. Jim (Jimmy) and Bette

Matt Desmond

March 1, 2013

There was no one better… I remember it like it was yesterday. The election results came in with my father Bruce down 2 votes. We were in a panic and didn't know what to do when Matt O'Neil said “We need to get Bill McDermott.” And there he was like “The Wolf” (Harvey Keitel) in “Pulp Fiction” (just not as good a dresser), cool, calm and collected under pressure. He got our rag tag recount team whipped into shape and just like that it went from down 2 to tied. Bill was the best at what he did and just as great a guy. He will be truly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Karen and Arthur

March 1, 2013

we just wanted to express how sad we are for what happened to Bill, and so so sorry for the loss that your family is feeling.

Bob LeBlanc

March 1, 2013

Billy was like a Brother and mentor.We have been friends most of our adult lives and shared in many ways life's twists and turns.He will always be in my heart and I will hear his voice of wisdom forever.

March 1, 2013

To the McDermott Family:

Bill was a great guy and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you at your time of need.

Mark & Jean MacMillan
West Roxbury, MA

Rick McDermott

March 1, 2013

Cousin Bill and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Bob Cusick

March 1, 2013

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Walter and Michael Sullivan

March 1, 2013

To the McDermott Family:

Please accept our deepest sympathies. Bill was one of the greats, both in terms of his skills and being a friend to so many.

You are in our prayers and thoughts.

Sincerely,

Walter and Michael Sullivan

March 1, 2013

My sympathy to Bill's family. I worked with Bill on a number of recounts, most recently with the recount for Representative Geraldo Alicea. I learned a lot from him. Last year on a small recount I took what I had learned from him and trained the volunteers. The Dem went in losing, came out winning and his currently serving. My condolences to all of Bill's family.

Gloria Cabral

March 1, 2013

I knew Bill from our childhood. We lived on Sydney Street in Savin Hill. We were on the second floor and his parents were my parents landlords. My whole family would like to send condolences and prayers to his family. I would love to get in touch with his sister Helen and brother John. My name is Gloria Cabral(maiden name) and I am on facebook. I live in Bridgewater, MA If possible, I would like it if one of his siblings could contact me whenever they can get a chance.

Thomas Michaels

February 28, 2013

I was Bill's neighbor. He always smiled, always said hello, and I was happy to have known him. I'm so vey sorry for your loss

Ed Forte

February 28, 2013

I'm so sorry for your loss - this is a true tragedy. I worked with Bill as zoning attorney on several projects. I always thought him more a friend than professional colleague - he had a way to do that. What a genuine guy - my deepest condolences.

Joseph Snerve

February 28, 2013

A good man who will be missed.

February 28, 2013

Dear Liam, Tara, and girls,
We are so sorry for your loss.
The Loiacono Family

Kate Toomey

February 28, 2013

With sincere sympathy and prayers to the McDermott Family. Thank you for sharing his bright light with all who encountered his presence.

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