Obituary of William R. Scott, Jr.

William Russell Scott, Jr., a letter carrier in Cambridge for 31 years passed away after a brief illness on Monday, October 30, 2023.  He was 91 years old.  Bill was born in Somerville, MA.  He was one of six children born to William and Rose Edith Scott.  He grew up in Cambridge and was a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School.  As a youth, he was an excellent athlete with baseball being his favorite sport.  He excelled in high school basketball and baseball and then played for the Cambridge City Baseball All Stars.  He was scouted by several Major League teams but chose rather to enlist in the Navy to fight in the Korean War.  He held the rank of Commissaryman Third Class and served on the USS Barton, DD-722 which was a destroyer.  He served for almost 4 years which was most of the Korean War.  The Barton was attached to Task Force 77 whose guns protected American Soldiers on the ground in Korea.  During that tour, the USS Barton was hit by enemy battery in August of 1952 and then the ship hit an enemy mine in September of 1952 killing 5 of his shipmates and wounding seven.  He was the recipient of the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the China Service Medal.  He was proud to serve his country, the Navy, and be a member of the crew of the USS Barton.  He would often share his war time stories with his children and grandchildren, with pride and solemn remembrance.

Upon returning from his military service, he took a position as a letter carrier for the United States Post Office.  He felt he had one of the best routes in Cambridge which included the neighborhood in Harvard Square where he grew up.  Everyone knew Bill by name.  He knew the residents, their children, and always kept an eye on the older customers on his route.  For many years, he worked a second job as a bartender at the elite Harvard Club in Boston. 

Bill was a man who embraced life and one who never wanted to sit idle.  He was an avid tennis player, which was a passion he shared with his wife Carol.  They were members of the Burlington Country Club and regularly played mixed doubles with friends.  He sometimes even played during his lunch hour in Cambridge.  He enjoyed playing golf, especially when he and Carol moved to East Falmouth and had the Paul Harney Golf Course located within walking distance from his home.  He loved working in and around his home.  He had a yard that all the neighbors envied.  His bushes were meticulously trimmed, and he had beautiful flower gardens.  He shared his talents within his retirement community doing projects to improve the common areas. 

He and his wife Carol had a wonderful marriage.  They married in October of 1957, and were blissfully in love for nearly 60 years. They raised their children in Burlington, and then retired to Cape Cod, where they continued to work on their tennis and golf games with family and friends. They frequently traveled to warm weather destinations with friends and were snowbirds in Vero Beach, Marco Island, and San Diego.  As a father, he was a strong role model to his children.  He often said that “you should treat others as you would want to be treated”.  They saw his work ethic, warm and welcoming persona, strong values, and the kindness and thoughtfulness he bestowed upon others.  He loved the time spent with his children may it be on the tennis court, on the golf course, on the beach, at his home in Cape Cod, or time at family gatherings, celebrations, and holidays.  He was so proud and happy to see his children become parents and have meaningful lives.  He loved being “Papa” to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He went to their sports and activities, loved getting on their level and playing, showing them his card and coin tricks, and just cherished seeing their smiles when they were together.  Bill will be remembered for many things including his kindness, compassion, sense of humor, and the love he showered upon all those he cared for.

Bill touched many lives while here on earth, and will be dearly missed. And so now once again, he and his beloved Carol are a match made in heaven.

Bill was the beloved husband of the late Carol Ann (Forsythe) Scott. He was the loving father of Janice Lanzoni & her husband Paul of Portsmouth, NH, Cathleen Markow & her husband Jerry of Salem, NH, William Scott, III & his wife Jill of Woburn, Barry Scott & his wife Tami of Marco Island, FL, and Lisa McLean & her husband Steven of Burlington.  He was the brother of Dolly LaBarge of Fryeburg, ME, Barbara Scott of New Port Richey, FL, Buddy Scott of Talent, OR, the late Bernie Stremeskus and Richard Scott.  He was the proud grandfather of Nicholas, Michael, & Guy Faretra, Danielle Harasek, Ashley & Steven McLean, Alex & Tess Lanzoni, and Dylan & Justin Scott and great Grandfather of Shane, Nico, Dominic, Alex, Leo, Max, Weston, and Grant.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 3-6pm. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Monday, Nov. 6 at 8:30am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.org, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 9:30am.  Services will conclude with a burial in the MA National Veterans Cemetery, Connery Ave, Bourne at 12:30pm. 

Memorials in Bill’s name may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center, www.joslin.org, One Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215. 

For obituary, online guestbook, & video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net