William P. Haddad

William P. Haddad, 69, Loving Husband, Family Man and Entrepreneur

William P. Haddad, 69, passed away on Thursday, May 24, 2018 surrounded by his family at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a courageous battle with Lymphoma. William was known to his closest childhood friends as “Red,” his parents and sister as “Billy” and his adult friends and colleagues as “Bill.” He was born in Lawrence and grew up in a big Italian-Lebanese family in the Prospect Hill neighborhood. He could be spotted a mile away thanks to his bright red hair and 6’6” height. He was the oldest of two children to the late William and Florence (Iucolano) Haddad.

Bill graduated from Lawrence High School in 1965 and Northeastern University in 1980. From a young age, he was mature beyond his years, hardworking, and ambitious. He pursued a career in corporate accounting for many years before starting his own business, the Haddad Financial Group based in Newburyport. During Bill’s 45-year career, he proudly served thousands of clients. He loved being an entrepreneur and a small business owner.

In the summer of 1970, Bill met Elaine Zaccari – “a nice Italian girl” as he would say - through a mutual friend at Salisbury Beach, and she quickly became the love of his life. Bill and Elaine were married in 1972 at St. Monica’s Church in Methuen. They lived in Salem, NH for ten years before moving to North Andover in 1984 where they raised two daughters, Julie and Alyssa. Despite his busy tax season, Bill never missed a gymnastics meet or tennis match. He coached North Andover travel team soccer and loved to treat his girls to Tripoli Pizza and the famous crispellis at the annual Italian Feast in Lawrence. Vacations in Disney World became a Haddad tradition every summer and Bill always insisted on visiting the country “Canada” at Epcot Center.

He walked both his daughters down the aisle – and even surprised his family with a wild father-daughter dance to “I Want to Dance” from Pulp Fiction at his eldest daughter Julie’s wedding. Bill and his wife loved to travel, especially with their favorite group of couple friends. Together, they took many trips to Italy (Bill’s favorite) as well as France, Switzerland, and California wine country.

Bill was blessed with four grandchildren, three boys and a girl. An avid golfer and tennis player, Bill could not wait for the day his eldest grandson was old enough to join “Grampy” on the golf course – at age five. Bill eventually taught all his grandchildren how to play golf and he loved bringing them on family vacations to Disney World.

Bill was a member of Atkinson Country Club and the Haverhill Masonic Lodge. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Dyslexia Center in Woburn. He was impressed by the Dyslexia Center’s incredible work and believed strongly in their mission.

Here to honor his legacy is his beloved wife, Elaine (Zaccari) Haddad; his cherished daughters, Julie Cullen and her husband David of Burlington, MA and Alyssa Haddad and her husband, Jonathan Spongberg of Stratford, CT; dear sister, Pauline DiTommaso and her husband David of Methuen; Bill’s treasured grandchildren, Thomas and Shane Cullen, and William and Taylor Spongberg; and many close family, friends, and neighbors.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen.  His funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at St. Michael Church, 196 Main St., North Andover.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dyslexia Center, 500 West Cummings Park, Suite 4400, Woburn, MA 01801.  For directions or to send condolences, please visit www.cataudellafh.com.