William Robert "Bill" Hazard, 97, of Tewksbury, MA, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Monday, October 12, 2026, at Cedar View Rehab in Methuen. He was the widower of the late Marjorie Ann (Chandler) Hazard, who passed away in 2014 after more than 54 years of marriage.
Bill was born on July 28, 1929, in Carmel, NY, son of the late Rowland G. Hazard and the late Johanna K. (Koch) Hazard. He was raised and educated in New Hyde Park, NY and graduated from Sewanhaka Central High School with the Class of 1947. He went on to earn his degree in electrical engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and later completed his master's degree at the University of Connecticut where he was a member of Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society.
Bill devoted his career to underwater acoustics, working in sonar development for naval vessels engaged in submarine detection. He spent more than 35 years as an electrical engineer at the Naval Underwater Systems Center in New London, CT, retiring at 55. He then continued his work for another ten years as a contractor with A&T before fully retiring at 65.
Outside of his work, Bill had a lifelong curiosity for genealogy and tracing his family's history, was an avid photographer as a young man, and enjoyed time spent boating. Above all, he will be remembered as a good father, a loving husband, a valued mentor, and a kind and generous man to all who knew him.
He is survived by his sons, Robert W. Hazard and his wife, Barbara, of Tewksbury, MA, and John K. Hazard and his wife, Chunyan Su, of Lincoln, MA; his grandchildren, Theresa Hazard, Michele Hazard, Carolyn Hazard and her wife, Charlotte, and Sherry Agabiti and her husband, Dan; his great-grandson, Kylian; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was predeceased by his sister, Caroline Jackman.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in William's memory to the Williams Syndrome Association or the National MS Society
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Granby Cemetery, 15 N Granby Rd Granby, Connecticut 06035. Please meet us directly at the cemetery. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Tewksbury Funeral Home. For additional information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook.