2 weeks Ago
LOWELL William Joseph Tanguay, age 78, a longtime resident of Lowell, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, after a period of declining health. He was the beloved husband of Mary E. (Economou) Tanguay with whom he enjoyed 50 years of marriage.
He was born in Lowell on June 23, 1946, and was the son of the late Joseph William Tanguay and Cecile Blanche (Perigny) Tanguay Turgeon. Billy entered the Marine Corps in 1965, rose to the rank of Corporal, and served in the Military Police before giving the wrong person a speeding ticket and being sent to Vietnam to serve out his last 9 months of enlistment. Given the opportunity to escape combat, William decided to go, since he hadn’t been out of the country before.
His overseas exposure to Agent Orange lead to his later struggles with heart disease and neuropathy. Bill began his career on the Lowell Police Department during the Blizzard of 1978. He spent his career as a patrolman, and spent a number of years working in the Detail Office.
His last post was in the Lowell Housing Division, where he was part of the bicycle patrol before retiring in 2001. After retirement, he spent a number of years working armed security for the Internal Revenue Service Andover Campus. Bill was a member of many different organizations, including the VFW Post 662 where he served in the Honor Guard, the Military Order of the Devil Dogs, DAV Chapter 47, Marine Corps League, and the Road Runners Car Club.
He had a unique ability to recall events by the car he was driving and the meals that he enjoyed at the places he visited, which always included a Coca-Cola Classic. He cherished spending time with his wife, daughters, and dogs Freebie and Oscar. In addition to his loving wife, William is survived by his two daughters, whom he often referred to as Yvette and Yvonne, Chris Tanguay and partner Rich Green, and Jennifer Nicholson and husband Adam, all of Lowell; sisters Lillian Mello and Susan Fortier and her husband Robert, of Lowell; brothers-in law, George Economou and his husband John Thompson of Chelmsford, and James Economou and wife Thea of Dracut, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He also had two grand-dogs, Gus and Teddy. He was predeceased by his sister Claire Lanoue and her husband Ernest. His funeral service and interment will be held privately.
Memorial donations may be made in William’s memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD.
Funeral Directors Paul A. Hardy, Jr. & Jennifer Lebaropoulos Hardy.
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