William P. Nangle Obituary

William P. Nangle, 87, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 10, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Gloria N. (Marcolivio) Nangle for 65 years. Born in Providence, he was a son of the late George B. and Leonora E. (Allen) Nangle. He lived in Greenville for 51 years, previously living in Cranston.
Bill enjoyed a remarkable life and career and his passion for helping others would leave an indelible mark on those he came in contact with. Bill graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1949 where he was recognized as MPHS’s Outstanding Male Athlete. After graduation, Bill would go on to serve in the US Navy (Aviation Petty Officer, 3rd Class) during the Korean War on the USS Bonhomme Richard.
Upon returning home in 1955, Bill attended the University of RI earning his degree in Physical Education. He went on to teach in the Providence School System for 30 years. Bill’s passion for sports, and in particular swimming, would lead him to serve as the Olneyville Boys Club’s swim coach and later as Club Manager. In 1967, Bill would go on to coach the La Salle Academy Men’s Swim Team leading them to their only two State Championships to date. During this period, Bill managed the Kendbrin and Grist Mill swim clubs building successful competitive aquatics programs for both. In 1968, Bill and Gloria settled their family in Smithfield where Bill shared his love of sports coaching youth baseball and later served as the town’s Recreation Director over the next 22 years. Bill, with Gloria’s help, would develop a first-class recreation program for the families of Smithfield. Existing athletic complexes were expanded, the Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink was built and Deerfield Park was designed and developed into a blue-ribbon athletic complex complete with soccer fields, a baseball diamond, tennis & basketball courts and anchored by the town’s first Senior Center. Bill also developed summer swimming programs at town beaches, tennis lessons and summer day camps for the town’s youth that would introduce them to arts & crafts, sports, swimming and day trips to a variety of educational venues. Bill also found time to give back to our elderly residents hosting an annual Christmas party where he and family would distribute donated gifts and lots of kindness to the residents.
In recognition of his unselfish commitment to the youth and families of the Town, Bill was inducted into Smithfield’s Heritage Hall of Fame in 2007 with Gloria proudly by his side.
Of all of their accomplishments, Bill and Gloria’s passion has always been their family of six children and their spouses, their seventeen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. Bill and Gloria spent summers with the family camping the east coast from Maine to Florida, boating area lakes and Lake Winnipesaukee and skiing the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Bill was an active member of St. Phillip Parish. He was an avid New England sports fan and he and Gloria enjoyed spending winters playing golf in Florida and traveling the US and abroad together.
Besides his wife, Bill is survived by his six children: Patricia R. Charland and her husband Dennis of North Scituate, Kathy L. Almonte and her husband Ernie of Barrington, William P. Nangle Jr. and his wife Tracey of North Smithfield, Robert T. Nangle and his wife Judith of Lincoln, Thomas E. Nangle and his wife Kathleen of Greenville and Maureen A. Nangle of North Providence and his 17 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren all of whom loved and cared for their Papa. Bill was the loving brother of the late John, George, Joseph and Frank Nangle and Dorothy Danielson.
The family extends its appreciation to the employees at Atria Senior Living in Lincoln, Brookdale Senior Living in Cumberland and Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of Providence for the care and compassion they showed our Dad & Papa.
His funeral will be held Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 8:30 AM from the TUCKER-QUINN Funeral Chapel, 643 Putnam Ave. (Rt.44), Greenville, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Ambrose Church, 191 School Street, Albion, RI. Burial will follow in the RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visitation Monday, January 14, 2019 from 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to, Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of Rhode Island, 1085 N Main St, Providence, RI 02904.