William P. “Billy” Torrey
William P. Torrey (52) was born on May 8, 1961 in Concord, MA to William E. and Mary Angela (Moran) Torrey. He passed away suddenly on Wednesday March 19, 2014 at his home in Framingham. “Billy” as he was most commonly known by friends and family was at home with his partner of twenty three years Michael Brenner. Billy had just lived in Framingham the last couple of years. He lived most of his adult life in Boston, the city he loved. He lived most of that time at the famous Piano Factory on Tremont Street. He loved the community of artists as he was an artist with an artistic soul himself.
Billy was born in Concord, MA and lived in Bedford, MA before moving to Weymouth, MA in the mid 1960’s. He attended Weymouth Public Schools. He is survived by two sisters Mary Ellen Barka of Brookneal, VA, Kathryn Torimoto of Kirkland, WA; three step brothers William Tennant of Brockton, MA, James Tennant of Providence, RI, Craig Tennant of Lewisville, TX and two step sisters JoAnn Tennant of Weymouth and Denise Tennant of Foxboro, MA. He was preceded in death by mother Mary Angela and father William Torrey and step mother Doris Torrey. Billy is also survived by several nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews.
Billy had worked for State Street Bank and other Credit & Collection Agencies throughout the Boston area during his working career. His true passions were music, dancing, lights, DJ and spinning records around a variety of clubs in and around Boston in the 80’s and 90’s. Most recently Billy has been a freelance photographer. He has also had a passion and love of flowers for most of his life as well and photographed flowers. He had also worked for Greenleaf Florist in Boston and became lifelong friends with Richard Greenleaf.
Billy has been a Nichiren Buddhist since 1985 when he joined the Soka Gakkai International-USA. He shared this faith with his sister Kathy. Services will be held Saturday June 21, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the S.G.L.-U.S.A. Boston Buddhist Center, 930 Commonwealth Ave. Boston MA 02118