William E. Cronin, III

William E. Cronin, III June 2, 1940 – July 1, 2026

William E. “Bill” Cronin, III, 86, of Bluffton, SC, formerly of Medford and Stow, MA and Hampton, NH passed away July 1, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Lorraine Bartlett Cronin, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage.

Early Life and Education Born on June 2, 1940, Bill was the loving son of the late William E. Cronin and Laura Patricia (Falvey) Cronin. He was raised in Medford, Massachusetts, and went on to attend Boston College, where he earned both his Bachelor’s degree and his MBA. He was a deeply devoted and proud “Double Eagle.”

Military and Professional Career Following his education, Bill proudly served his country as an officer in the US Air Force during the Vietnam conflict. Upon returning to civilian life, he established a successful, lifelong career in sales. Over the years, he brought his talent and expertise to major corporations including IBM, Bell & Howell, Wang, Oki Data, and Win Enterprises.

A Life of Community Service and Faith While raising his family in Stow, Massachusetts, Bill was a pillar of the local community. He volunteered his time coaching Little League baseball and Stow soccer. A man of deep faith and civic duty, Bill served for 35 years in the Stow Lions Club, acted as the newsletter editor for the Saint Isidore parish bulletin, and served as the parish council treasurer. Upon moving to South Carolina, his deep faith continued as a long-time, active member of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton.

Retirement and Social Life Bill lived a remarkably happy and fulfilled life, embracing every new chapter with enthusiasm. Upon retirement, Bill and Lorraine relocated to the warm community of Bluffton, South Carolina. In Sun City, Bill embraced community life to the fullest. He was a golfer, and the absolute highlight of his week was the weekly breakfast gathering with his "golf guys." Bill also belonged to the Computer Club and the Irish Heritage Society and proudly served as the secretary for the New England Club. Exceptionally tech-savvy, Bill took great pride in mastering every app on his smartphone to keep up with the modern world, frequently hailing Ubers and ordering from DoorDash.

Travel and Heritage Bill and Lorraine loved to travel the world, embarking on many memorable trips with travel clubs and close friends. A true highlight was accompanying Lorraine and the St. Gregory the Great choir to Italy, where they had the distinct honor of singing at the Vatican. Bill’s own passion for exploration ultimately inspired a deep curiosity in his children to see and experience the world.

In addition to exploring new horizons, Bill possessed a passionate and proud interest in family history. Through his dedicated research, he successfully traced his family roots back to Bandon, Enniskean, and Macroom in West Cork, Ireland. He also meticulously mapped his American ancestry back to his 4th great-grandfather, Jacob Lurvey. Jacob was an honored patriot of the American Revolution, captured and held twice by the British as a prisoner of war, who was later buried on Mount Desert Island in Maine.

Personality and Legacy Above all, Bill will be remembered as a funny, witty man who loved to tell jokes and always had a sharp answer for everything. He possessed an incredible memory and knew the lyrics to every song. A voracious reader, he was particularly drawn to historical biographies and non-fiction, and he took great pride in staying maximally up to speed on global events and Boston sports—whose teams were subtly and classically featured in his daily attire. Bill was known by all who met him as a true gentleman—ever polite, kind, and courteous to everyone he encountered along his path of life, bringing endless joy to those around him.

Family In addition to his loving wife, Lorraine, he is survived by his three children and their families:

• Captain Jeffrey Cronin, USN Retired, and his wife, Michelle, of San Diego, California.
• Julie Wallace and her husband, John Wallace, of Fairfield, Connecticut.
• Mary Catherine Cronin and her husband, Jonathan Brooks, of Boston, Massachusetts.

He is also survived by his sister, whom he greatly admired and loved:

• Colonel Martha A. Cronin, USA Retired, San Antonio, Texas.

Bill was preceded in death by his loving sister, Laura Falvey Cronin, formerly of Medford, Massachusetts.

He was the proud and loving grandfather of JJ Cronin, Meghan Cronin and Helen Wallace and great grandfather to Lucas Cronin.

Services and Burial A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at St. Andrew Chapel in Bluffton, South Carolina. Bill will be returned home to Massachusetts for burial at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford.

In Lieu of Flowers In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill’s honor to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org).