William M. Manzi, Jr.

William M. Manzi, Jr. passed away on April 21, 2019, at home, surrounded by his family. He was born in Lawrence on August 20, 1934, to the late William M. Manzi, Sr. and late Irene (Arcidiacono) Manzi, and was the beloved husband of the late Tania (Lopez) Manzi.

Bill attended Holy Rosary Grammar School, Admiral Farragut Academy, and Lawrence High School. He was a master electrician, beginning his career working for Manzi Electric, becoming the head of the “Jobbing” Department.  He eventually formed his own company, Wil-Man Electric, and was very proud of being a true electrical craftsman. He was a lifelong member of the IBEW Local 103. Bill also owned and operated Rostron’s Package Store in downtown Methuen.  He was one of the founding members of the Merrimack Valley Package Stores Association and an active member of the Massachusetts Package Stores Association. Rostron’s was a stop for many elected officials from local and state government, and many spirited discussions took place there. Bill eventually became the Superintendent of Maintenance for the Methuen Housing Authority, where he took pride in providing first-rate service to the tenants. He retired from that job after ten years of service.

He instilled in his family a strong work ethic, and his love and devotion to his family extended to all of his many aunts and uncles, whom he revered. He shared many years of marriage to Tania, who was his soul-mate and the bedrock of his life and shared his love of life and family. He loved his time with her at their winter residence in Deerfield Beach, FL, where they enjoyed some quiet time together, seeing friends from the Merrimack Valley and occasionally visiting the fabled thoroughbred race tracks of that state.

Bill spent many years volunteering as a youth basketball coach at the Lawrence Boys Club and the Central Catholic CYO League, coaching the Lahey Boys Team, and the St. Francis Raiders. He was very proud of his St. Francis team that won the New England CYO Championship in 1970, as well as his Lahey School team that won the Boys Club public school championship in the same year. He cared about his student-athletes and had many lifelong friendships with the young men he coached. Bill loved the Boston Celtics, being a season ticket holder in the Bill Russell era, and he was a long-suffering Red Sox fan.
 
Bill was predeceased by his beloved wife, Tania (Lopez) Manzi and his siblings, Jacqueline Audrey and Sandra Jean. He was also predeceased by his first wife, Helen Dorothy Doore, who passed away in 1959.
 
He is survived by his children, former Mayor William M. Manzi, III and his wife Beth, Karen P. Manzi, Robert M. Manzi and his partner Dawn, John M. Manzi and his wife Candice Bergeron all of Methuen; sisters, Angela Boda of Deerfield Beach, FL, Irene M. Stevens of Denver, CO, and Sandra Found of Salisbury; grandchildren, William M. IV, Meaghan, Isabella, and Lucius Manzi; and aunt, Anna Manzi Tulley; and uncle, Michael Manzi, Jr.  He also leaves many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
 
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, April 26, 2019, from 4:00-8:00 PM at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen.  His funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church, 35 Essex Street in Lawrence.  Burial will be at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence.