J. William Bird Jr.
Retired from Virizon, Vietnam War veteran; 53
TEWKSBURY - James William “Bill” Bird, 53, a well known figure in the Tewksbury YouthSports community, died unexpectedly Sunday morning, April 14, at Saints Memorial MedicalCenter from apparent heart failure. He was the husband of Colleen M. (Duffy) Bird, with whomhe had celebrated a 31st wedding anniversary this past December 19th.
He was born in Medford, Mass, January 27, 1949, the son of James William Bird Sr., ofBurlington and the late Rita (McHugh) Bird who died in 1989. He was raised in Burlington andgraduated Burlington High School. He went on to West Texas State University, where heexcelled in NCAA Football. He later attended the University of Lowell and Bunker HillCommunity College.
During the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Corps aboard the “Skipjack,”and was honorably discharged at the rank of SK3. He was a member of the Tewksbury V.F.W.Post 8164.
He retired from Verizon’s Chelmsford office, as an Outside Special Consumer Technician. hewas a member of the I.B.E.W., Local 2321, and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of AmericaClub.
He was an active member of the Tewksbury Youth Football program as a coach and director for18 years, and had also coached in the T.Y. Baseball program for eight years.
Mr. Bird was also a communicant of St. William’s Church.
Besides his wife and father, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Tara and JonathanHarvey of Wilmington, a son, James William “Billy” Bird, III of Tewksbury, two sisters, MaureenVaudo and Darlene Maffioli both of Burlington, their children, Jodi Maffioli and John Vaudo,sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Judy and Robert Holder of Brookline, NH, Bill and FarahDuffy of Baltimore, MD, Peter Duffy of Fort Fairfield, Maine, Nancy and Paul Muise of Woburn,Tim Duffy of Burlington, Jane and Peter Garchinsky of Woburn, and many nieces and nephews.
He will also be missed by Shadow, Jake and Bug.
His funeral was held Wednesday, April 17, in St. William’s Church. Interment was in Chestnut Hill Cemetery,Burlington, MA.