Boys Town New England

William W. Corcoran 2007 Spirit of Youth Award Recipient

Bill Corcoran to Receive Boys Town New England Spirit of Youth Award

An ardent supporter of children and families throughout Newport, R.I., William W. Corcoran will receive the 2007 Boys Town New England Spirit of Youth award at the organization’s annual gala Oct. 21.

Corcoran, a senior member of the law firm Corcoran, Peckham, Hayes, and Galvin, is a founding member of Boys Town New England. He helped Boys Town establish programs in Rhode Island in 1991, and through his leadership and counsel, paved the way for construction of the five residential homes on the Bazarsky campus. He has since provided legal counsel to the site.

“He has always been there when we needed his help,” said Bill Reardon, Boys Town New England Executive Director. “It is our honor to recognize him for his numerous contributions to the children and families of our community.”

Corcoran’s generosity to children and families is well known in Newport. Each winter he and his wife, Mary, open up their property so the entire city can access Lilly Pond. They create six ice rinks, making them available for children and families to play hockey and ice skate, and provide hot chocolate.

A Newport native, Corcoran served as an Officer in the United States Navy after graduating from Brown University in 1952. He went on to receive his Jurist Doctorate from Boston College Law School in 1958 and then entered practice at Corcoran, Peckham and Hayes.

In addition to his involvement with Boys Town, he is chairman of the Thompson Scholarship Fund and a trustee with the John Clarke Trust, the country’s oldest educational trust fund. He and Mary have seven children and 14 grandchildren.

Boys Town New England’s second annual Spirit of Youth Awards Gala will be held Oct. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Newport’s Hotel Viking.