William Chenoweth Traphagen Jr.

William (Bill) Chenoweth Traphagen, 96, passed away at home in Amherst, MA on Sept 23, 2025. Bill was born in New Rochelle, NY to Frances Sweeney and William Chenoweth Traphagen, Sr. He grew up in Larchmont, NY. He graduated from Mamaroneck High School, earned an undergraduate degree in business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from NYU. He served in the Army during the Korean War, stationed in Germany, from 1951 to 1953. He joined Pratt & Whitney Aircraft's spare part sales division in 1962 and remained employed by P&W until his retirement in 1997. He met his true love, Sheila Joan Moreau, at the Hartford Catholic Grads Club, and they married in 1963. Bill and Sheila raised their five daughters in Glastonbury, CT and Tequesta, FL. Bill was a devoted son, husband, uncle, father and grandfather and a steadfast friend. His family was the center of his life. He loved to meticulously plan family road trips in the Ford Ranch Wagon (known to all as the banana), whether up to Old Lyme Shores, CT, across the American West or to Disney World. Bill was a true morning person: up and out of bed as soon as he opened his eyes. He was known for this boundless energy, especially during several decades of early morning carpools to the Pratt facility west of Jupiter, Florida. Bill made friends everywhere: in the neighborhood, at work, at church, and at the chorale where he sang after the girls left for college. An only child, he was a devoted son to his mother Frances, his stepmother Adeline and his father Bill, Sr. Bill and Sheila retired in 1997 and embarked on an epic tour of the UK and Ireland before settling in Bourne, MA. Bill joined Red Sox Nation, became a loyal Patriots fan and loved to walk along Cape Cod Canal with Sheila. His "retirement" included many part-time jobs and volunteer positions - including a long stint driving the Bourne Senior Center van. Bill welcomed the arrival of each of his 11 grandchildren and celebrated their accomplishments and graduations with loud enthusiasm, often accompanied by a cowbell. Bill and Sheila traveled extensively during these years, on cruises and guided trips, often with friends and family, discovering new places and having great adventures. When Sheila was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and entered the Center for Extended Care at Amherst, Bill moved to Amherst and visited Sheila every day he could until she passed in February 2023. Through these visits he brought much joy to Sheila and everyone at the Center. In recent years, Bill's mobility declined, but his laugh was still loud and infectious and the twinkle in his eye everpresent. He loved nothing more than being surrounded by his daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren. Bill is survived by his five daughters and their families: Mary Frances and Matt Day - Price, Will, Cormac and Gretchen; Kathleen and Khalid Elkalai - Zaim, Layla and Sahar; Sheila and Eoin Shannon - Crow and Declan; Elizabeth and the late Edward Vamenta - Adeline and Jude; and Ann and Justin Heitmann - Althea. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday Oct 1 from 9:30-10:30AM at Douglass Funeral Service, 87 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Brigid's, 122 N. Pleasant St. Memorial guestbook can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com