Mr. Kenneth L. Watson, age 87, of Walpole, formerly of West Roxbury and Roslindale, died on August 10, 2005 at the Stanley R. Tippett Hospice House in Needham.
Born in Boston, Mr. Watson grew up in the city’s Roxbury section. He attended local Boston Public Schools and was a graduate of Boston Latin School.
After many years of operating his own business, a package store in Mattapan and a laundromat in Dorchester, Mr. Watson changed gears and began his law enforcement career as a night patrolman for Boston College in 1971. He rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Police and went on to build an International Model of Campus Policing. He headed the department as Chief for over a decade, retiring in 1991. During his tenure, which included the Doug Flutie football era, substantial campus expansion and a substantial increase in student population. He was a member of the Mass. Police Chiefs Assoc.
Mr. Watson attended Northeastern University where he earned his degree in criminal justice, graduating with high honors.
A veteran of World War II, Mr. Watson was a Plank Owner and Gunners Mate First Class stationed on the Battleship Massachusetts, serving an extensive tour in the South Pacific from 1942-1945.
He has resided in Walpole since 2003, having previously lived in West Roxbury for 15 years and Roslindale for 40 years prior to that.
He has survived by his wife of 61 years, Eleanor M. (Salerno), a son Kenneth and his wife Rebecca of Walpole, a daughter Patricia of West Roxbury and a daughter Deborah and her husband Matthew of Westwood. He also leaves his 4 grandchildren, Lauren and Samantha of Walpole, and Christina and Michael of Westwood, and a great grandson, Tyler of Walpole. Mr. Watson was the Brother of the late Paul, George, and William Watson.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, August 15th , in the P.E. Murray-George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 2000 Centre St., West Roxbury, at 10 am. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.
Mr. Watson may be remembered through a donation to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of Massachusetts, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472 or online at www.almass.org/