Judge, William F., known to all as Bill, of Melrose, formerly of Somerville and Charlestown, passed away peacefully on August 28, age 79. Bill was born on July 18, 1947 in Boston, the son of James (Dace) and Marion Judge. 

He is survived by his beloved wife Bobbie; sons Ian and his wife Sara of Somerville, Michael and his wife Eunjae of Andover, and Stephen and his wife Danielle of Topsfield; grandchildren Isaac, Laila, Suzi, Michelle, and Jackson; brothers Barry of Raleigh, NC and Robert of Maine; and many nieces, nephews, and other beloved family members. Bill was predeceased by his sisters Carol, Patricia, and Marion (Chickie), and by his brother Jim.

He was a graduate of Somerville High School and Boston State College, where he earned a degree in Earth Science. Following a brief stint as a teacher, Bill served 41 years with the Massachusetts Port Authority Police, where his background, foresight, and humanity rendered him beloved both by his colleagues and the citizens he served. The ‘LT’ as he was fondly known, was a member of the I.L.A., choosing to remain a lieutenant and union member throughout his career with pride and intentionality.

Bill loved basketball, playing on Somerville City Leagues as a youth alongside his buddy Pete Gayeska, and was known to shovel out Albion Park in winter just to shoot hoops. He was a lifelong Celtics fan, and was thrilled to be at the Garden in 2008 to watch the C’s defeat the Lakers for the World Championship in game 6. He also helped to found the Melrose Basketball Association and coached for many years, where his emphasis on teamwork and his enthusiasm and care for every single one of the young people on his team left an indelible positive impact on his players.

Bill will be forever remembered by the many people who knew and loved him, and by the countless friends he made. Indeed, from the streets of the city, to the waterfront, to the beaches of Hawai`i: wherever Bill went, he always found friends, who loved his sense of humor, amazing stories, and caring nature. Above all, he loved his family, his children, and his grandchildren, all of whom will be telling stories about Dad/Papa for years to come–even if they can’t tell them quite as well as Bill did!

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation on Sunday, September 6 from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington.  His Funeral Service will be held in the Funeral Home at 12:30 pm.  At the request of the family, burial services will take place at a later date.