William J. Cotter

William J. Cotter, 94, of Worcester, died Friday, March 14, 2025 at the UMass-Memorial Medical Center.

Bill was born in Worcester, son of Thoms F. and Katheryn R. (Sullivan) Cotter and was a lifelong resident of Worcester.  He vacationed summers on Block Island for 85 years.  

He graduated in 1949 from South High School and in 1953 from Worcester State Teachers College, now Worcester State University.  He later earned a master’s degree from Worcester State and did graduate work at Boston University.

After service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.     

Bill was an educator in the Worcester Public Schools for 46 years, retiring in 1999.  In his long career, he was a teacher at Millbury St. School, an assistant principal and teacher at Oxford St. and Belmont Community schools, and principal at Union Hill School.  While in the Army, he was a teacher at a military academy in Eta Jima in post-war Japan.          

Bill was a gifted baseball player.  He was the first co-captain of the Worcester State baseball team and was invited to several major league baseball tryouts, including with the Red Sox.   

Bill’s wife, Valerie (Butler) Cotter, passed away in 2003.  He was also predeceased by his brothers Thomas X. Cotter and Dr. Paul F. Cotter. 

Bill leaves his life partner Patricia F. Burns of Worcester; two sons, William J. Cotter Jr. of Hope Valley, R.I., and Jonathan M. Cotter and his wife Meg of Auburn; a granddaughter Valerie Cotter; a grandson Jonathan Daniel Cotter; a great-grandson Justin Cotter; a brother Peter Cotter and his wife Suzanne of Jefferson; and many nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services are private.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory are suggested to Veterans Inc., 69 Grove Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605.

The Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, is directing arrangements.