William J. McGowan, Jr., 71, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Son of the late, William J. McGowan and Alice R. (Farley) McGowan. He was the beloved husband for 46 years to Donna M. (Maini) McGowan, and son-in-law of the late Gino and Mary Maini. Bill started his sales career with Jacob Licht, Inc. selling restaurant equipment and designing industrial kitchens. He later worked for the Providence Journal as a manager in their distribution center in Warwick. Bill attended East Providence High School, leaving early to join the Marine Corps. He served as a Lance Corporal in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange which resulted in a diagnosis in 2017 with Interstitial Lung Disease. After his discharge in 1971, Bill received his G.E.D. and went on to receive a degree in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales College. He had a deep faith and was a Communicant of St. Benedict Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister as well as a CYO basketball coach.
An athlete all his life, he played baseball, was a runner, and a Masters Swimmer who participated in the Save the Bay annual charitable swim from Newport to Jamestown. Bill also coached in the Warwick National Little League and was remembered for Don’s Pizza’s comeback win when they overcame an opening-game setback to post five straight victories and claimed the Major Division championship. He was also an assistant coach with the Warwick Soccer Association. He was a member of the Redsox Nation and an avid New England Patriots fan. Bill was also a former member of the St. Peter’s school Parent Teacher Guild. More recently, he was a volunteer for the Alzheimer’s Association RI Chapter serving as an Ambassador to Senator Jack Reed where he advocated for Federal funding to advance research efforts to find a cure for the disease. He loved to travel with his family and enjoyed his annual trips with his wife to Bermuda and scoured the Caribbean and Mexico to explore for new beaches. He also loved the beauty of Ireland and Italy. One of his favorite places was New Smyrna Beach in Florida where he spent time with his brother-in-law Gino Maini and his late wife, Susan. He will always be remembered as a great man and husband. He was an exemplary and dedicated father and grandfather. A true patriot. The world has lost one of its best.
He is also survived by his two sons, Jonathan W. McGowan (Carrie) and Brendan G. McGowan (Vanessa Ferriere). He was the loving “Poppa” to Celia Rose McGowan, Jonathan Jackson McGowan, Brian Dean Mosier, Jr., and William Joseph McGowan, III. He also leaves his siblings and twin brother, James J. McGowan (Patricia A.), Joseph T. McGowan (Eileen M.), Michaela A. Mendes (Paul A.), Kevin M. McGowan (Barbara N.) and the late Eugene P. McGowan and was the brother-in-law of Gail A. McGowan. Bill was a loving uncle, great uncle and Godfather to many nieces, nephews, and godchildren. The family would like to share their appreciation for the dedicated care provided by his physical therapist, Karl Busch as well as his nurse, Doreen Francis.
His funeral will be held, Friday, April 22, 2022 at 9am from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave, Warwick with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Kevin Church, Sandy Lane, Warwick which will be live streamed and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXc3nrJ8VwKvuElA4mpuVw/videos. Burial with full Military Honors will follow in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours, Thursday, April 21 from 4-7pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka KS, 66675 or the Alzheimer’s Association RI Chapter, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence RI 02906 would be appreciated. Information and condolences, visit www.theQuinnFuneralHome.com
