William J. Gorham

William John (Bucky) Gorham
1934-2015
HOLYOKE- William John (Bucky) Gorham, 80, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away January 27. Born in Holyoke on September 17, 1934, the son of the late William and Florence Gorham, he was a graduate of Holyoke High School, Class of 1952, and earned an A.S. in criminal justice from Holyoke Community College. He played semiprofessional football with the Holyoke Ramblers and the Holyoke Merchants after high school and competed in the Peanut Bowl in Georgia. He joined the National Guards shortly after graduation and earned the rank of Sergeant Major. He was a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard 104th Infantry Division and retired after 32 years of service.
Bucky joined the Holyoke Police Department in 1959 and served 35 years, retiring as a lieutenant. He was a member of the Ward 1 Team Policing Unit and recently celebrated with his fellow officers and family at a surprise 80th birthday party. He served as a training officer at the regional Police Academy and also led the SWAT team during his years of service. He was honored to lead the police marching unit at the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade the year of his retirement. An active volunteer with the Holyoke Soldier’s Home, he was a member of the American Legion Post 325 and a member of the National Guard 104th Infantry Retirees Club. He loved to travel and toured Europe, Africa and Asia with Lorraine. He recently took a cruise to Bermuda with his family to celebrate his 80th year. Bucky leaves his wife of 56 years, Lorraine; two daughters, Debra Piner of Sarasota and Kathleen O’Brien and her husband Kevin of Holyoke; a son, Robert, of Holyoke, and his grandson, William Patrick O’Brien. He is survived by his sister, Florence Beauchemin, of Westfield, and a cousin, Shirley Fontaine, of Ludlow and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews across the country. Calling hours are Saturday from 9:00am to 12pm at Messier Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian burial at Our Lady of the Cross at 1 p.m. A burial will be held at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Agawam on Tuesday February 3rd at 1PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holyoke Soldiers Home Recreation Fund c/o Margaret Feyre, 110 Cherry St, Holyoke, MA 01040.