"Barbara ,Michael and Sharon, I am so truly, truly sorry for the loss of Bill, He was a very nice man and a great neighbor to me,,know you are all in my thought,s.."
In loving memory of
William Rafferty
October 22, 1948 - July 11, 2020
William J. Rafferty, 71, of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, passed away from Frontotemporal Degeneration and complications from Covid-19 on July 11th, 2020. He was born on October 22, 1948, in Malden, MA to Thomas and Alice Rafferty.
Bill was a loving and devoted family man who had a warm smile, a kind heart, and an infectious laugh. He was the husband and best friend of Barbara Rafferty for 49 years. He was the father of Sharon Rafferty, Michael Rafferty and his wife Allyson, the grandfather of Emersyn Rafferty, the brother of Thomas Rafferty and his wife Maria, and Robert Rafferty, the brother-in-law of James Magarian and his wife Ann, the uncle of Tom Rafferty, Kevin Rafferty, Dennis Magarian and his wife Erica Ann, and Laura Magarian, and the great uncle of Aaron and Brayden Magarian.
Bill was a graduate of UMASS Lowell and spent 6 years in the Army National Guard. He had a 33 year-long career as a Combat Systems Engineer at Newport, RI's US Naval Undersea Warfare Center. He was dedicated to his work and country but always made time for his family, coaching youth softball and soccer, taking family vacations, playing board games and just enjoying a good movie. He was a kid at heart who, like his father and brother, was a Boston sports fan and an avid golfer. He enjoyed his yearly golf trips to Myrtle Beach with his brother Tom and close friends. In his retirement, he enjoyed the winter months in Florida with Barbara before being diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration in 2007.
The family would like to thank everyone for their support and for his care at Brookdale Sakonnet Bay Senior Living.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at 10:00 AM at St. Barnabas Church 1697 E Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871. Due to the current situation with the coronavirus, the service will also be live streamed at:
http://bit.ly/BillRaffertyFuneral
Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery at 11:45 AM in Middletown, Rhode Island.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration.
https://www.theaftd.org/support-aftds-mission/
Tributes
"Dear Barbara, Sharon, and Michael...Margaret Waugh sent us a note letting us know of Billy\'s passing. We want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We have so many wonderful memories of our years in Portsmouth. We shared so many fun family times together and loved the years that we spent as neighbors. Love, Rick and Kay Burch"
"Barbara, Sharon and Michael, We have so many fond memories of Billy, going way back. Words cannot express our feelings. Remembering all the great times during family get togethers, gatherings and events. Billy was always there to offer help if needed. He enjoyed talking and watching sports, a real sports fan and avid golfer. We are so sorry for your loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and family. R.I.P Billy, you had a long road of suffering, All our love. Ann and Jim Magarian"
"Dear Barbara and family, We are so sorry for your loss. We have many good memories of Billy. Please know you are in our thoughts and hearts. Hoping these words will help you find comfort during this time of sorrow. All our love, Ken and Vicki "
"Barbara, my heart and prayers go out to you. I will miss him dearly. Donna Curry Halligan"