William McLaughlin

McLaughlin, William E.
William "Bill" Edward McLaughlin, 82, a fifty year resident of Stamford, passed away on May 20, 2013 at his home with his loving family by his side after a three year battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Bill was born in Holyoke, MA on December 30, 1930 to the late James Francis and Erma Kusnick McLaughlin.
Bill's education was at the local Holyoke schools, graduating from Sacred Heart High School in 1948. He was a life member of the Holyoke Lodge of Elks #902. He served in the US Army from 1952 to 1954, in the Korean War, as a Corporal at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he served as a Military Police Officer. Bill was a member of the American Legion and participated in the Marine Toys for Tots Program for ten years. He was employed by American Machine & Foundry Company from 1955 to 1966 on the Titan and Atlas in ground missile systems at Vandenburgh & Lowry Air Force Bases.
Bill was then employed by Barnes Engineering Company from 1966 to 1993 where he held various positions in inspection and quality control. He also oversaw aerospace programs including (GPS) Global Positioning Satellite responsible for the quality of numerous infrared sensor components/systems dealing with weather and secret systems for his twenty seven years at Barnes Engineering Company.
He also was assigned to the Gemini Missile launch tracking system, working for Sperry Gyroscope Company and the instillation of the radar tracking systems aboard the USS Hap Arnold and USS Hoyt Vandenberg out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Bill was a huge sports enthusiast as well as an avid and devout New York Giants, Boston Red Sox and The UCONN Men's and Women's basketball teams. Bill was a sports official for over thirty years umpiring softball as well as a basketball and volleyball. He belonged to the Volleyball IABO Board 9 Umpires Association CVBO, basketball and the Stamford Softball Association. He worked for the Stamford Board of Recreation as a Field Supervisor in charge of Men's Leagues basketball and softball at Divisions C/1 and C/2 for approximately twenty five years. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Stamford Basketball Youth.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of fifty nine years, Hughette "Bonnie" Lefebvre McLaughlin, two sons; Brian James McLaughlin and his wife Linda and Steven Patrick McLaughlin and his wife Laurine, three granddaughters; Kellie Lynn Joy Thomas, Jennifer Leigh McLaughlin and Caitlyn Maran McLaughlin, one great grandson; Jude Steven Joy, two step-grandchildren; Nicholas and Angelo Papa, as well as one sister; Jayne Neisner of Manlius, NY.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT on Thursday May 23, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00PM, with a service to be celebrated at 7:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to The American Cancer Society, 825 Brook Street, I-91 Tech Center, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.