Beverly: William P. Gilligan age 91 died unexpectedly Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at the Beverly Hospital. He was the loving husband of Aline E. ‘Noonie’ (Theriault) Gilligan with whom he shared 63 years of marriage.
Born in Peabody and raised in Salem, he was the son of the late Patrick J. and Anna M. (Terrell) Gilligan. Bill joined his father’s leather dye manufacturing company at the age of 16. He was a graduate of St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers and soon after joined the Army to serve in the South Pacific and New Caledonia during W.W. II. Following his tour of duty he returned to Salem and continued in the family owned United Pigment Corporation which he retired from in the mid 1980’s.
Bill was totally devoted to his wife and family. He also possessed a great sense of values, not to mention sense humor. He enjoyed boating, woodworking, refinishing furniture and all four legged creatures. A resident of Beverly since 1949, he was a member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish.
In addition to his wife ‘Noonie’, he is survived by 5 sons: James P. Gilligan and his wife Susan, Robert A. Gilligan and his wife Kathleen, William P. Gilligan, II and his wife Jennifer, Richard D. Gilligan all of Beverly, Michael W. Gilligan of Burlington, VT., 5 daughters: Elaine M. Ward and her husband Ronald, Jean G. Archer, Marie B. Dawson and her husband James, Diane A. Healey and her husband Thomas all of Beverly, Carol A. Radzikowski and her husband Gerard of Brighton, and a sister, Marie B. Freedman of Salem. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, James Dawson, Jr., Emily Zotto, Jesse, Matthew & Elizabeth Ward, Megan & Alec Radzikowski, Adam Archer, Ashley Hutchinson, Alyson & Katelyn Healey, Kerry, Ryan, Caroline, Patrick, Mackenzie & Trevor Gilligan and 2 great-grandchildren, Charles & William Hutchinson as well as many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral mass on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 9 a.m. in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 251 Cabot St., Beverly. Visiting hours will be at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Rt. 114 / 1-A] Salem on Friday from 4 to 7 pm. Burial will be in North Beverly Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mass. General Hospital Development Office, c/o Cancer Research, 100 Charles River Plaza, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114. For guestbook and additional information please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com