Salem, NH – William R. "Coach" Gosselin, 84, of Salem, NH, passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at Wilmington Health Care Center, surrounded by his loving family. He is the beloved husband of Irene E. (Berube) Gosselin, to whom he was married for 60 years.
Born in Lawrence on January, 20, 1929, coach was the son of the late George and Yvonne (Perrault) Gosselin. He attended St. Patrick's Elementary School in Lawrence and graduated from Central Catholic High School, where he was senior class president and excelled in football, baseball, basketball, and track. He then graduated from Tilton Prep School in Tilton, NH, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from Arizona State University in 1951, where he was named to the all-conference football team and voted an AP All-American. He earned his MBA from Salem State College in 1963.
He served his country in the U.S. Army 187th Airborne during the Korean War, where he received the Purple Heart, Parachute Badge, Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star, and the Overseas Bar United Nations Service Medal.
Bill was a member of the Athletics Hall Of Fame at Central Catholic High School, Tilton Prep School, and Methuen High School. He received many honors from the Eagle Tribune. He was also awarded Athletic Director of the Year from District A, Eastern Massachusetts.
Bill was a physical education teacher and assistant football coach with the University of Rhode Island, an assistant football coach with Lawrence High School, a history teacher and head football coach with Woodbury High School in Salem, NH, and a physical education teacher, head football coach, director of health, PE, and athletics with Methuen High School, where he retired as athletic director after 23 years.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Massachusetts Retired Teachers Association, Massachusetts Retired Athletic Directors, an Arizona State University Alumni, and a Tilton Prep School and Central Catholic High School Alumni.
In his free time, he enjoyed reading, gardening, sports, and traveling to Arizona, Florida, Cape Cod, Canada, Jamaica, Bahamas. Paris, and New Mexico. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and watching them play sports.
Bill will be deeply missed by his wife, Irene; 5 daughters, Christine Ann Gosselin and partner Donald Brown, of Medford, MA, Roberta Allison and her husband, Michael of Medford, Bernadine Kosowicz and her husband, Kenneth of Windham, NH, Jacqueline Hibbard and her husband, Charles of Marblehead, MA, and Jeanine Dufton and her husband, Craig of Salem, NH; 2 sons, William R. Gosselin Jr and his wife, Nancy of Woodbridge, CT and Thomas Gosselin and his partner Eileen Doane of Windham, NH ; a sister, Claire Wadlinger and her husband, Joseph of Topsfield, MA; 3 sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Winn and her husband, Charles, Mary Gosselin, and Janice Gosselin; a brother-in-law, Wess Roberts; 10 grandchildren, Jesse Gosselin and his wife, Jennifer, Mary Gosselin, Matthew Gosselin and his wife, Kimberly, Nina Gosselin, Olivia Allison, Richard, Colin, and Nicole Croteau, and Mitchell and Jacob Dufton; many nieces and nephews; and special friends, Skeets and Sylvia Scanlon and Leo and Milly Seman.
He is predeceased by a daughter Jennifer Gosselin, a sister, Roberta Roberts, and 2 brothers, George and Robert Gosselin.
Bill's family would like to offer a special thanks to the Wilmington Health Care Center, especially to Joseph Appo and Carl Godfrey for all their comfort and care.
Family and friends will honor and celebrate Bill's life by gathering for calling hours at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen on Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 4-8 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Friday, October 11th at 11:00 AM at St. Monica's Church, 212 Lawrence Street, Methuen. All guests are kindly asked to meet at St, Monica's Church. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested, in Bill's honor, memorial contributions be made to the William R. Gosselin Scholarship Fund Methuen Alumni Association c/o Arthur Nicholson 90 Hampshire St. Methuen, MA 01844 or to the William R. Gosselin Scholarship Fund Central Catholic High School, Office of Institutional Advancement 300 Hampshire St. Lawrence, MA 01841. For directions or to send an online condolence to Coach's family, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com.
The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Gosselin family.