Father of Harvard resident, loyal Patriots and Red Sox fan, known for his boundless energy
Bill Traphagan. (Courtesy photo)
William (Bill) Chenoweth Traphagen, 96, died at home in Amherst on Sept. 23, 2025.
Bill was born in New Rochelle, New York, to Frances Sweeney and William Chenoweth Traphagen Sr. He grew up in Larchmont, New York, graduated from Mamaroneck High School, and earned an undergraduate degree in business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from NYU. He served in the Army during the Korean War, stationed in Germany, from 1951 to 1953. He joined Pratt & Whitney Aircraft’s spare part sales division in 1962 and remained employed by P&W until his retirement in 1997.
He met his true love, Sheila Joan Moreau, at the Hartford Catholic Grads Club, and they married in 1963. Bill and Sheila raised their five daughters in Glastonbury, Connecticut, and Tequesta, Florida. Bill was a devoted son, husband, uncle, father and grandfather and a steadfast friend. His family was the center of his life. He loved to meticulously plan family road trips in the Ford Ranch Wagon (known to all as the banana), whether up to Old Lyme Shores, Connecticut, across the American West or to Disney World.
Bill was a true morning person: up and out of bed as soon as he opened his eyes. He was known for this boundless energy, especially during several decades of early morning car pools to the Pratt facility. Bill made friends everywhere, in the neighborhood, at work, at church, and at the chorale where he sang after the girls left for college.
An only child, he was a devoted son to his mother, Frances, his stepmother, Adeline, and his father, Bill Sr. Bill and Sheila retired in 1997 and embarked on an epic tour of the UK and Ireland before settling in Bourne, Massachusetts. Bill joined Red Sox Nation, became a loyal Patriots fan, and loved to walk along Cape Cod Canal with Sheila. His “retirement” included many part-time jobs and volunteer positions, including a long stint driving the Bourne Senior Center van.
Bill welcomed the arrival of each of his grandchildren and celebrated their accomplishments and graduations with loud enthusiasm, often accompanied by a cowbell. Bill and Sheila traveled extensively during these years, often with friends and family. When Sheila was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and entered the Center for Extended Care at Amherst, Bill moved to Amherst and visited Sheila every day he could until she died in February 2023. Through these visits he brought joy to Sheila and everyone at the Center. Recently, Bill’s mobility declined, but his laugh was still infectious and the twinkle in his eye was ever present. He loved nothing more than being surrounded by his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.
Bill is survived by his five daughters and their families: Mary Frances and Matt Day and their children, Price, Will, Cormac, and Gretchen; Kathleen and Khalid Elkalai and children Zaim, Layla, and Sahar; Sheila and Eoin Shannon and children Crow and Declan; Elizabeth and children Adeline and Jude; and Ann and Justin Heitmann and child Althea. He was predeceased by son-in-law Edward Vamenta.
A memorial guest book can be found at www.douglassfuneral.com.
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