Obituary; William J. Renehan
William Joseph Renehan, an inventor and entrepeneur, age 78, of Jupiter, Florida, formerly of Manchester-by-the-Sea,
Massachusetts, passed away in Florida on February 27, 2007. He was the husband for 50 years of Virginia Rose (Parsons) Renehan. Born in Dorchester, MA on April 7, 1928, the son of the late Catherine (Kelley) and Joseph Renehan, Bill graduated from Mission High School in Boston. An Eagle Scout, he entered the United States Army where he served as a paratrooper and a paratrooper instructor during World War II. Following the war, he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Boston College in 1951. Bill founded the Renco Corporation and Renehan - Mahoney Associates in 1962. He held the patent for the Containment Glove System which was used to handle the first moon rocks. The glove is used today as flight hardware on the International Space Station. Mr. Renahan also served on various industrial safety and distrbution boards. Bill, along with his wife and brother in law Bill, created the popular make your own Sundae shop known as the Sundae Cottage, which was operated seasonally in Manchester during the 1970's. He was active in the Manchester community where he was Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and a Cub Scout Leader with Troop 30. He was a man of quick wit and always eager to lend a hand in support of his many friends and family. In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his daughters; Kathleen Heckert of Jupiter, Fl and Pauline Weger and her husband Roger of Fairfax, VA, his sons William G. of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Richard Renehan of Manchester, his Granddaughters; Jenifer A. Renehan, Shawn Michelle Weger and Alexis Nicole Weger and his sister; Frances Renehan of South Boston. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday March 5, 2007 at St. Mark's Church 1725 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA. Visiting Hours will be held on Sunday from 2 - 5 P.M. in the O'Donnell & Mulry Funeral Home, 138 Neponset Ave. in Dorchester. Interment with military honors will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA on Monday at 12 :45 P.M. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to Catholic Charities of America, P.O. Box7068, Merrifield, VA
22116 or to Missionhurst, CICM, 4651 North 25th St., Arlington, VA 22207.