William T. Hogan, Jr., 90, of East Boston, Needham and Naples, FL, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2017, nine days shy of his 65th wedding anniversary. Bill was born and raised in East Boston, the son of BFD Deputy Chief William T. Hogan and Mary T. Crotty. He graduated from St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School, Boston Latin School and Boston College, where he also received a Master’s Degree. He graduated from the New England School of Law in 1958 and became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1947. He was a gifted athlete who excelled in both football and baseball, receiving a baseball contract from the Philadelphia Phillies and induction into the Boston Park League Baseball Hall of Fame from the Jevelli Club.
While at Boston College earning his Masters Degree, he met a fellow student, Dorothea A. Shea. They fell in love and were married on June 7, 1952. Together, they raised 10 children. He was devoted to his wife “Dotty” and she was his best friend and confidante.
Bill became a United States Probation Officer in 1956 and was promoted to Chief in 1970. In 1979, Bill joined the administration of his childhood friend, Governor Edward J. King. He served as Chairman of the Parole Board, Commissioner of Correction, Commissioner of Public Welfare and Secretary of Human Services, where he exercised authority over 14 agencies with 33,000 employees and a budget in excess of $2.9 billion. In 1983, he was appointed Associate Justice of the District Court Department, serving in both the Dedham and Barnstable District Courts. During his tenure in the Judiciary, he served as a Member and then Chair of the Judicial Conduct Commission. He chaired the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Corrections, and when asked by the Governor, authored a report that outlined a blueprint for current and future operations of the Department of Youth Services, known as the “Hogan Report”. He taught for many years at the Boston College School of Social Work.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothea (Shea) Hogan of Naples, FL, and his brother Joseph E. Hogan and his wife, Mary of Farmington, CT. He is also survived by his loving and devoted children, Mary Hogan Sullivan and her husband Jeremiah of West Roxbury; William T. Hogan III and his wife Susan of Needham; Patricia Henry and her husband Michael of Chattanooga, TN; Joan Hayden and her husband Peter of Naples, FL; Brenda Shisslak of Needham; Margaret Nellson and her husband Thomas of Wilmington; Michael F. Hogan and his wife Elizabeth of North Andover; his son-in-law David Kotler of Avon, CT; Daniel J. Hogan and his wife Denise Doherty of Canton; and Jennifer Guinee and her husband Patrick of Pittsburgh, PA. Bill was predeceased by his daughter Ruth Kotler and his sisters Margaret C. Hogan, Mary P. Hogan and Cecelia Shore, and son-in-law Robert Shisslak. Bill is also survived by 32 grandchildren who love and miss him dearly.
Visiting Hours will be held in the Robert J. Lawler and Crosby Funeral Home, 1803 Centre St., West Roxbury, on Sunday, June 4, from 4:00 to 7:00pm. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 1382 Highland Ave., Needham, on Monday, June 5, at 10:00am. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bill’s Name to St. John’s School, 696 Washington St., Canton, MA 02021 www.sjscanton.org or to St. Bernard School, 401 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15216 www.stbschool.net
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