Obituary: William Francis Reardon, 81, Korean War Veteran

William Francis Reardon, 81, of Portsmouth, RI, died unexpectedly at Newport Hospital on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Born in Newport, RI on 26 December 1932, he was a son of the late to Marion and John Reardon.

He was the beloved husband of Sheila Reardon, stepfather to James Leonard, Ph.D., of Dresher, Pennsylvania and Daniel Leonard of Portsmouth. His seven grandchildren were a source of great pride and he loved them completely; Nicole Leonard of Temple University Medical School, Jason Leonard, Alyson Leonard and Steven Leonard of Westport, Massachusetts, Simone Leonard of Boston University, and Micah and August Leonard of Dresher, Pennsylvania. He is survived by two sisters, Patsy Robertson of Newport and Suzanne Reardon of Jacksonville, Florida. His two nephews, Colonel Michael Robertson USA (Ret) of North Stonington, Connecticut and Christopher Robertson, Ph.D., of Norwell, Massachusetts and several other nieces and nephews throughout the country, also survive him. He is predeceased by his two brothers, Jack and James Reardon.

Bill was a Navy veteran during the Korean War and attended Boston University and Suffolk University. He retired from the Naval Underwater Systems Center in Newport where he was the head of their Public Affairs Office and editor of NUSCOPE. While working for the government in 1979 he received a Special Achievement Award for Excellence in his field. He recently worked as an information specialist at the Newport County Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau. After retirement from federal service, he frequently published human interest stories in the Providence Journal and Newport Daily News. He had worked for the Newport Nautilus, the first tour booklet for Newport County. He was also previously employed by Raytheon, Empire Life Insurance as Ranch Manager in Galveston, Texas, The Bristol Phoenix publication and was Assistant Director of Public Relations for the American Red Cross in Boston. He volunteered many places, including the Red Cross, various soup kitchens, community organizations and local theaters. He had served on the Board of Directors of the Newport County Visiting Nurse Service.

Bill lived in Portsmouth with his wife, Sheila, for 25 years, yet always considered himself a Fifth Warder. They wintered in Venice, Florida. They enjoyed travelling all over the world, including Africa, China, Vietnam and India and throughout Europe and South America. They had just returned from a three-week trip to Italy and France. His proudest moments were the accomplishments of his sons and grandchildren, who called him “Bop.” He was, truly, a “Gentle Man.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at St. Barnabas Church, 1697 E. Main Road in Portsmouth, RI. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations in Bill’s memory may be made in his memory to Holy Cross Mission Center, P.O. Box 543, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Funeral arrangements are by the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home. For online condolences, please visit www.onhfh.com.