William J. Dorgan Jr.
BIRTH
7 Jul 1923
DEATH
26 Aug 2006 (aged 83)
BURIAL
Saint Ann Cemetery
Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
Add to Map
PLOT
Section 39, Lot 694, Grave 1
MEMORIAL ID
15550632 · View Source

William Joseph Dorgan, Jr., was born on 07 Jul 1923 at 51 Pekin Street in Providence, Rhode Island, and died on 26 August 2006 at Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI. He was 83 years old.

His mother, Helen Louise McIntosh, was 17 and unmarried when William was born on Saturday, 7 July 1923. Helen Louise McIntosh married William J. Dorgan 18 days later in Fall River, MA, on Wednesday, 25 July 1923.
"Massachusetts, State Vital Records, 1638-1927", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CB9-97Q9:

William appears on the 1930 US Census living at 256 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, with his extended family:

Joseph B Connell, 53, Head
Ellen L Connell, 43, Wife
Helen L Dorgan, 24, Step-Daughter
Charles A McIntosh 22, Step-Son
Alfred F McIntosh, 20, Step-Son
Frances Dwyer, 41, Sister-in-Law
William J Dorgan, 6, grandson
Helen L Dorgan, 5, granddaughter
Corrinne H Dorgan 2, granddaughter

He appears on the 1940 US Census living at 256 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island, with his extended family:

Name: William J Dorgan Age: 16 Estimated Birth Year: about 1924 Gender: Male Race: White Birthplace: Rhode Island Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Stepgrandson Home in 1940: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

View Map Street: Chalkstone Avenue House Number: 956 Inferred Residence in 1935: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island Residence in 1935: Same House Sheet Number: 5B Neighbors: View others on page Household Members:
Name
Age
Joseph E Connell
64
Ellen L Connell
54
Helen L Dorgan
34
Frances Dwyer
53
William J Dorgan
16
Helen L Dorgan
15
Corinne H Dorgan
12

He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, RI, and immediately went to Keystone Radio School in Bedford Springs, Bedford, PA, in June 1941, six months before Pearl Harbor. His rank was S 2/c, Sec 4B-43. Naval Training Class at the Keystone Schools, Naval Training School for Radio at the Bedford Springs Hotel near Bedford. During World War II in the 1940s, the Hotel and its grounds were used by the U. S. Navy as the Naval Training School for Radio and then later as a detention center for interned Japanese diplomats.
(Photo from https://www.facebook.com/NTSRadioBedfordSprings/)

The Keystone Radio School in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania, was a Naval training facility that operated during World War II to provide specialized radio training to sailors. Here are some additional details I was able to find about it:
• It was established in 1942 and located at the Bedford Springs Hotel, which was taken over by the U.S. Navy for use as the radio school.
• The school provided advanced training courses in radio operations, maintenance, and repair for Navy radio personnel.
• Curriculum included classes in radio theory, Morse code, electronics, transmitters, receivers, and direction-finding equipment used by the Navy.
• Thousands of sailors received training at the school throughout WWII to meet the high demand for skilled radio operators and technicians needed for the war effort.
• In addition to classrooms, the hotel facilities were converted to include code rooms, radio repair shops, and a direction-finding station on the grounds.
• The school operated until late 1945, when it was decommissioned after the end of World War II.
• Being located in the resort town of Bedford Springs allowed the Navy to take advantage of existing buildings and accommodations to establish the radio training school quickly.

So, in summary, my father would have received advanced technical instruction in radio communications at this temporarily converted hotel/resort that played an important role in preparing Navy radio personnel during the critical years of World War II.

WWII Draft Registration Cards for Rhode Island, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947
State Headquarters
Rhode Island
Full Name
Dorgan, William Joseph
Birth Date
7 Jul 1923
Birth Place
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Race
White
Employer
B And B Dept Bridge Repairing
Weight
137
Height
5 10
Complexion
Ruddy
Eye Color
Blue
Hair Color
Blonde
Contact Person
Dorgan, Helen Louise
Relation To Head
[Blank]
Year
[Blank]
Residence
Providence, Rhode Island
Residence Country
USA
Registration Date
27 Jun 1942
Registration Place
Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Conflict Period
World War II
Served For
United States of America
Roll Name
44036_02_00009

William enlisted in the US Navy on 11 December 1942.
William Joseph Dorgan Jr in the U.S., World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949

Name
William Joseph Dorgan Jr
Record Type
Enlistment
Service Number
32
Enlistment Date
Dec
Description
Commander Naval Forces, Northern Solomons Island, 9/1/43 to 3/1/45 Decom,

His service number was 205 32 13, and his Rating at the Last Report Date was RM3c V6. I found him on the Muster Rolls of the Crew of the USS Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Eleven on 31 May 1944, 31 August 1944, 31 December 1944, and 31 January 1945.

Name
William Joseph Dorgan Jr
Record Type
Enlistment
Service Number
205 32 13
Enlistment Date
19 Feb 1946
Description
Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 11, Comm. 1/20/43 to 11/11/45 Decom.

He married (1) Mary Anne Gorman on 31 Aug 1946 in Blessed Sacrament Church, Providence, Rhode Island, daughter of Stephen Gorman and Johanna O'Brien. She was born on 07 Mar 1925 in Providence, Rhode Island, and died on 28 Jun 1982 in North Scituate, Rhode Island. She was buried on 01 Jul 1982, St. Ann's Cemetery, Cranston, Rhode Island, Section 39, Lot 694. She was 57 years old.

He married (2) Dolores Carbone on 17 Dec 1987 in St. Joseph's Church, North Scituate, Rhode Island, daughter of Salvatore Carbone and Thersa Agnello. She was born on 27 February 1932 in Johnston, Rhode Island.

Notes for William Joseph Dorgan, Jr.:

1946: resided at 151 Regent Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island.

1954: resided at 85 Herschel Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

1976-2006: resided at Oakridge Road, North Scituate, Rhode Island.

1945-1948: The New Haven-Worcester-Providence Railroad

1948-1978: Patrolman, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Director of Personnel:
Providence Police Department

1978-1988: Director of Security, Community Colleges of Rhode Island


Here is a link to their first apartment after they were married: https://tinyurl.com/y5wd3egl
Here’s the Google map page, which you can move to see the surrounding neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant: https://tinyurl.com/y4gnw9h3


Obituary:

William J Dorgan, Jr
Birth:
 
Jul. 7, 1923
Death:
 
Aug. 26, 2006
 
DORGAN, WILLIAM J., JR., Captain PPD (Ret.), 83 of Oakridge Road, North Scituate, died peacefully Saturday, August 26, 2006, at Roger Williams Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Dolores S. (Carbone) Dorgan and the late Mary A. (Gorman) Dorgan.

Born in Providence, he was the son of the late William J. Dorgan and Helen L. (McIntosh) Dorgan.

Bill served for 29 years with the Providence Police Department, retiring in 1976 as Captain and Director of Personnel. He was also Director of Safety and Security at the Community Colleges of Rhode Island for 10 years. He was a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School and Bryant College. Bill was a WWII USN Veteran, serving in the South Pacific. He was a member of the VFW, the Knights of Columbus, the Holy Name Society, the Fraternal Order of Police, Providence Lodge #3, and the Providence Retired Police and Firefighters Association. He was an avid reader, gardener, carpenter, and mechanic.

Bill is survived by two sons, William J. Dorgan, III, of Florida and Panama, and Edward M. Dorgan of North Scituate; two daughters, Joanne M. Dooley and her husband Michael of Smithfield, Donna M. Pheland and her husband Timothy of North Scituate.

Bill leaves five grandchildren, Michael M. Dooley of North Providence, Meaghan E. Dooley of Smithfield and Timothy N. Pheland, Kyle P. Pheland, and Mackenzie M. Pheland of North Scituate. He is also survived by two sisters, Corinne H. Herzog of Greenville and Helen Louise Monahan of Tennessee.

The Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. from the WINFIELD & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 571 West Greenville Road, North Scituate, Rhode Island. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, North Scituate, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Cranston. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. At Bill's request and in lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be made to Roger Williams Medical Center Development Office to support the needs of nursing and ancillary services so passionately provided to Bill throughout his illness.
 
Burial:
Saint Ann’s Cemetery
Cranston
Providence County
Rhode Island, USA

Grave: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15550632


I delivered this eulogy at my Dad's funeral, St. Joseph Church, North Scituate, Rhode Island, on 30 August 2006:

“Once upon a time … and all good stories begin that way … in an age only remembered by a handful of people – the world was at peace … braced between two world wars.

A young man from East County Cork, Ireland, and a young woman from staunch Scotch Presbyterian stock, had a child in the heat of a 1923 Providence July ---

And the child grew healthy and wise … even though his parents grew apart.

Except for his step-grandfather, Joe Connell, he was raised primarily in a household of loving women…

his grandmother, Ellen Dwyer

his mother, Ellen Louise McIntosh

And his sisters, Corinne Hope and Helen Louise.

All that changed … as it did for many boys his age … as he sailed off to the South Pacific in the company of men to fight for a cause that makes all men and women free today.

The cute tow-head boy returned from a conflict he had little talked about and, like many of his comrades, met a sweet, smart, catholic girl from Mount Pleasant named Mary Ann Gorman, who made him chase her until they both literally fell in love … because they simply couldn’t stand being apart.

And they married … and suffered the heartache of losing two babies … Mary Ann and Daniel Patrick.

And when they were told to have no more children, their steadfast faith and their personal desires impelled them … and here we are today: Billy, Eddy, Joanne, and Donna.

And we were a happy, close-knit family.

We reveled in each other’s successes, stood by each other in times of trouble … and through all the ups and downs of life’s challenges … we always had each other … and we still do!

And this is precisely their legacy: there has never been a time when one of us was ever left abandoned from their love and embrace.

They were always there for us … no matter what the personal cost.

And so … family and friends of Bill Dorgan… we honor a man … who, more than many men … rose from humble beginnings to be a tower of integrity, honesty, and fair play.

His many personal friends expressed these same sentiments at the wake last night:

Many of his police buddies spoke of the power of his character and integrity.

Many of his colleagues at the community colleges experienced the tenacity of his sincerity and honesty.

And all of his friends had a story about what a good and decent man he was.

On behalf of Dolores, his wife, and my entire family, I thank you for sharing this day with us.

You honor us by your presence.

Your stories of a good and decent man make us all smile and feel very proud … because, like all of you, we know firsthand they are all true!”


Dad:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields …
And until we meet again,
May God hold you gently in the palm of His hand.

AMEN

—————————————————————

SUMMARY
The following was produced and written by AI (Artificial Intelligence) on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March 2024. I asked AI to review the data on the Dorgan Family website (dorgan-family.com) and to write a bibliography. Here is what it wrote! We live in interesting times!


William Joseph Jr. DORGAN 1923 - 2006
Birth July 7, 1923 ● Providence, Rhode Island
Death August 26, 2006 ● Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island
Parents William Joseph DORGAN 1897 - 1983 Helen Louise DORGAN (born McIntosh) 1905 - 1992

Siblings
Baby Son DORGAN 1917 - 1917
Helen Louise MONAHAN (born DORGAN) 1924 - 2015
Corinne Hope HERZOG (born DORGAN) 1927 - 2015

Wives
Mary Anne DORGAN (born GORMAN) 1925 - 1982
Dolores CARBONE 1932 - 2020

Children with Mary Anne DORGAN (born GORMAN)
Mary Ann DORGAN 1947 - 1947
William Joseph DORGAN Born: 1948
Edward Michael DORGAN Born: 1950
Joanne Marie DOOLEY (born DORGAN) Born: 1953
Daniel Patrick DORGAN 1958 - 1959
Donna Marie PHELAND (born DORGAN) Born: 1963

Biography
William Joseph DORGAN, Jr. was born on July 7, 1923, in Providence, Rhode Island, to William Joseph DORGAN and Helen Louise DORGAN (born McIntosh) [1]. His father was originally from Carrigkilter, Ballintemple, East County Cork, Ireland, born on April 11, 1897 [1], while his mother was a native of Providence, Rhode Island, born on December 28, 1905 [1].

He grew up with three siblings: an unnamed baby brother who was born and died in October 1917, sister Helen Louise, born on August 19, 1924, and Corinne Hope, born on October 28, 1927 [1].

On August 31, 1946, he married Mary Anne GORMAN, who was born on March 7, 1925, also in Providence, Rhode Island [1]. The couple exchanged vows at Blessed Sacrament Church in their hometown and were blessed with six children: Mary Ann, William Joseph III, Edward Michael, Joanne Marie, Daniel Patrick, and Donna Marie [1]. Unfortunately, both Mary Ann and Daniel Patrick passed away shortly after birth, on September 29, 1947, and March 25, 1959, respectively [1].

After the passing of his first wife, Mary Anne, on June 28, 1982, William married Dolores CARBONE on December 17, 1987, at St. Joseph's Church in North Scituate, Rhode Island [1]. Dolores was born on February 27, 1932, in Johnston, Rhode Island [1].

Professionally, William served as a Providence Police Officer before becoming the Director of Safety and Security for the Community Colleges of Rhode Island [1].

He resided in North Scituate, Rhode Island [1][2].

William Joseph DORGAN, Jr.'s life came to an end on August 26, 2006, when he passed away at the age of 83 at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence, Rhode Island [1][2]. He was laid to rest in St. Anne's Cemetery, Cranston, Rhode Island, Section 39, Lot 694 [1].

Historical Context
William Joseph DORGAN, Jr. was born into a world recovering from the Great War (World War I), during an era characterized by rapid industrialization and social change. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 7, 1923, he entered a society where the Roaring Twenties were about to unfold, bringing with them economic prosperity for many Americans, along with cultural shifts such as the Jazz Age and the beginning of Prohibition in 1920.

His father's Irish heritage also placed William within the context of post-Easter Rising Ireland, which had just experienced a significant step toward independence from British rule.

When William married Mary Anne GORMAN in 1946, the United States was transitioning from wartime to peacetime following World War II. The couple's life together began during an optimistic period known as the post-war boom or the Golden Age of Capitalism, which saw unprecedented economic growth, the rise of consumer culture, and the expansion of the American middle class.

However, their tragedies with the loss of two children echoed the fragility of human life amidst this time of great technological and medical advances.

William's career as a Providence Police Officer and later as Director of Safety and Security for the Community Colleges of Rhode Island spanned decades that witnessed the Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, and the societal upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s. These roles placed him at the heart of local responses to national issues like crime prevention, public safety, and campus activism during times of widespread social change.

Passing away in 2006, William lived through the latter half of the 20th century and into the new millennium— a period marked by the end of the Cold War, the rise of digital technology, and the events of September 11, 2001, which reshaped global security concerns.

His burial in St. Anne's Cemetery, Cranston, Rhode Island, brought his story to rest in the state where it began, encapsulating nearly a century of American history and transformation.

Last Name Origins
The surname Dorgan is of Irish origin. It is an anglicized form of the Old Gaelic name 'O'Deoradhain', which itself comes from the word 'deoradh' meaning 'exile' or 'wanderer'. The prefix 'O indicates 'descendant of' or 'grandson of'. Therefore, the name O'Deoradhain refers to the descendant of the wanderer or exile. This surname is primarily associated with the province of Munster in Ireland, particularly counties Cork and Waterford.

Consistency Issues
1. The text does not mention any inconsistencies or conflicts.

Citations
1. Source: DORGAN Website, managed by WILLIAM DORGAN https://www.myheritage.com/profile-1398514902-1000001/william-joseph-dorgan-jr
2. Source: U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) collection on MyHeritage https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10002-4747667/william-j-dorgan-in-us-social-securitydeath-index-ssdi

Mary Anne Gorman Dorgan
BIRTH
7 Mar 1925
DEATH
28 Jun 1982 (aged 57)
BURIAL
Saint Ann Cemetery
Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
Add to Map
PLOT
Section 39, Lot 694, Grave 1
MEMORIAL ID
16715817 · View Source

Mary Anne Gorman attended Blessed Sacrament School on Regent Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island, and graduated in 1942 from St. Patrick's High School in Providence, Rhode Island.

She worked as a secretary before her marriage.

After their marriage, William and Mary Dorgan lived at 151 Regent Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island. They moved in 1954 to 85 Herschel Street, Providence, Rhode Island. In 1975, they moved to Oakridge Road in North Scituate, Rhode Island.

1950 United States Federal Census
Name
Mary A Dorgan
Age
25
Birth Date
abt 1925
Gender
Female
Race
White
Birth Place
Rhode Island
Marital Status
Married
Relation to Head of House
Wife
Residence Date
1950
Home in 1950
Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Street Name
Regent
House Number
N1
Apartment Number
2nd
Dwelling Number
46
Farm
No
Acres
No
Occupation Category
H
Worked Last Week
No
Seeking Work
No
Employment Status
No
Household members
Name
Age
William J Dorgan
26
Mary A Dorgan
25
William Dorgan Jr
1

After the birth of her first child, Mary Ann, who died at birth of Spina Bifida, she worked briefly for the Peerless Box Company. Later, she returned as a secretary for the Briggs Limited Company, a haberdasher in downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

Under President Johnson's "Man-Power" Act, she returned to school. She graduated from Rhode Island Junior College with a nursing degree. She worked at Roger Williams General Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, from 1964 to 1980.

Mary Anne Gorman was a devout Catholic, wife, and mother.

She died of breast cancer at the age of 57. She was my mother, and I still miss her.

Mary Anne (Gorman) Dorgan
Birth: Mar. 7, 1925
Death: Jun. 28, 1982
 
Burial:
Saint Ann’s Cemetery
Cranston
Providence County
Rhode Island, USA
Plot: Section 39, Lot #694
 

Blessed Sacrament Church

Dolores S. Carbone Dorgan
BIRTH
unknown
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
DEATH
3 Aug 2020
Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island, USA
BURIAL
Saint Ann Cemetery
Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island, USA
Add to Map
MEMORIAL ID
214124216 · View Source


DOLORES S. DORGAN was born 27 February 1932, and she registered to vote, giving her address as 140 HARDING ST, in WEST WARWICK, RI 02893, U.S.A. She was registered as a Democrat. Her telephone number is 1-401-615-8464. Her voter ID number is 30000282739
http://rivoters.com/by_number/300002/82739_dolores_s_dorgan.html


Obituary
Dolores S. Dorgan, 88, passed away Monday, August 3, 2020 at Kent Hospital in Warwick. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Theresa (Agnello) Carbone. She was the wife of the late William Dorgan, Jr. Dolores loved her family, her kids, and her babies. She is survived by her children, Dorothy DiLorenzo, Thomas DiLorenzo, Sr., Richard DiLorenzo and his wife Maureen, Doreen Correira and her husband George, Carol-Lyn Richards, and the late Edward DiLorenzo, Jr. She also leaves nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Rosemary (Carbone) Laro.

Her funeral and burial will be private at the Potvin-Quinn Funeral Home, West Warwick.


From Legacy.com:

Dolores S. Dorgan, 88, passed away Monday, August 3, 2020 at Kent Hospital in Warwick.

Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Theresa (Agnello) Carbone.

Dolores loved her family, her kids, and her babies. She is survived by her children, Dorothy DiLorenzo, Thomas DiLorenzo, Sr., Richard DiLorenzo and his wife Maureen, Doreen Correira and her husband George, Carol-Lyn Richards, and the late Edward DiLorenzo, Jr. She also leaves nine grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Rosemary (Carbone) Laro.

Her funeral and burial were private at the Potvin-Quinn Funeral Home, West Warwick.