Born on June 4, 1930 in Lynn, MA, Bill was the eldest of four children, born to Charles Sumner Pettigrew Sr. and Etta Butler Pettigrew. Bill is survived by his sister Joanne Anderson known as “Tootie”, who currently resides in Saugus, MA and was predeceased by his brothers Daniel and Robert Pettigrew.
His first marriage to Evelyn Veno of Wakefield, MA in 1956 lasted 15 years before Evelyn passed away. They had one daughter, Stacy T. Pettigrew Veasey who is married and resides in Texas. Bill then married Elizabeth Dupont Pettigrew in 1979 in Topsham, ME who had four sons from her first marriage. Together Bill and Liz had one daughter named Amy Pettigrew Warner.
The six Dupont/Pettigrew children, all of whom attended Mt. Ararat High School, are gathered in Topsham at the family home on Birch Ridge Ave.
Pettigrew enlisted in the Navy in 1948 at age 18 immediately after graduating from Lynn English High School and served for 30 years before retiring as a meteorologist and the Officer-in-charge of the Naval Weather Service detachment at Brunswick Naval Air Station, at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. He served two tours in the Philippines, a tour in Guam, a tour in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and was stationed at many locations in the states including bases in NJ, Maryland, and Brunswick Naval Air Station, Maine. He also served on the USS Wasp out of Boston. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, a National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Bill completed his undergraduate degree at New Hampshire College (NHC), received a master’s degree from USM, and an MBA from NHC. He went on to teach college for over 20 years at NHC and Central Maine Community College and served as the Director of the New Hampshire College Continuing Education Program at Brunswick Naval Air Station.
He served his local community as a Topsham selectmen, as the Umpire in Chief of the Amateur Softball Association, as President of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials of Southern Maine, and as a Toastmaster. Bill was the 1991 recipient of the Joshua Chamberlain Award, and was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus. Bill served on the board of St John’s school in Brunswick and as a member of the Fleet Reserve Association.
Bill is survived by his wife of 33 years, Liz Pettigrew, their daughter Stacy Veasey, and her husband Jack, sons Tom Dupont, Phil Dupont and his wife Kelly, Edward Dupont and his wife Catherine, Michael Dupont and their daughter Amy Pettigrew Warner. He also has six grandchildren ages 9 to 28.
Bill loved his family, his community and service to others.
In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick and People Plus in Brunswick Maine. To leave a message of condolence or to view a tribute video of Bill’s life please visit www.brackettfuneralhome.com.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 – 7PM on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at the Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 in St. John the Baptist Church, Pleasant Street, Brunswick, followed by a reception at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Brunswick.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
