William J. Vaccaro

William J. Vaccaro, Jr., 83, of Lyman and Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2017 at the Florida Hospital in Zephyrhills. William was born in Everett Massachusetts to William J. Vaccaro, Sr. and Vera Mazza Vaccaro. He grew up in Sanford Maine and attended local schools, graduating from Sanford High School in 1953. Following graduation he worked with his father for a short time at a local shoe manufacturer before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1954. On August 13, 1955 he married Rachel Emmons Vaccaro and resided in San Antonio where he served as a hydraulics technician until he was reassigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in 1958. There, he worked at the missile test site on the Atlas, Titan, Thor and Minuteman missiles. He was instrumental in designing several calibration tools and testing equipment that are still used in the Air Force today. In 1969, William was assigned to Clark Airbase in the Philippine Islands where he served in the Thirteenth Air Force with the safety inspection team. After serving overseas, he moved to Missouri in 1972 where he was stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base and continued to work for the safety inspection team. Finally, in 1973 he was transferred to Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts where, after serving his country for 20 years as well as working part-time during the entire period, he retired as a Technical Sergeant on September 1, 1974 and returned to his home town of Sanford. In September, 1974 he started his first civilian job working for L.V. Allen & Sons as an equipment technician. In 1980 he went on to work for Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick as a calibration specialist where he stayed until he retired for the second time. Shortly before his retirement, Rachel, his wife of 36 years, passed away on July 3, 1991. He met his second wife Phyllis Legere White in the summer of 1993 and they were married on April 8, 1994. They made their home in Springvale until moving to Lyman in May of 2005. Shortly after, they began wintering in Zephyrhills, Florida to escape the cold winters of Maine. William enjoyed tinkering in his garage and restoring antique cars. There wasn't anything he couldn't fix. He loved playing golf, driving fast cars and watching all of the New England sports teams, but what he cherished most was his family. William was very proud of his military career and often wished he could go back, even at his age. He was a strong man who kicked cancer's ass for nine years! He was a true hero and loved beyond words. William was predeceased by his parents, William J. Vaccaro, Sr. and Vera Mazza Vaccaro; his first wife, Rachel Emmons Vaccaro, his brother, John Vaccaro, three sisters, Betty Vaccaro Jellerson, Barbara Vaccaro Allen and Cathy Vaccaro and his grandson, Ryan Vaccaro of Portland. Surviving are his wife of 23 years, Phyllis Legere Vaccaro; his brothers, Paul Vaccaro of Poland, Maine and Thomas Vaccaro of Rochester, New Hampshire; four daughters, Dianne Seavey and her husband Erwin of Kennebunk, Lori Schultz and her husband Mike of Boca Raton, Florida, Lisa Vaccaro and her wife Abby Harmon of South Portland and Terri Vaccaro of Kennebunk; one son, Rick Vaccaro of Alamogordo, New Mexico; four step-children, Stephanie Hupe and her husband Doug of Springvale, Susan Jackson and her husband Ryan of Bonita Springs, Florida, Valerie White and her husband Ric Loyd of Portland and John White of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; eight grandchildren, Bethany, Brittney, Rick, Meredith, Kyle, Cody, Austin and Jack; five step-grandchildren, Justin, Jeffrey, Cailyx, Lyric and Hooper; two great-grandchildren, Veda and Baker and four step great-grandchildren, Eli, Tatum, Hazen and Jax. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the spring at a date to be announced at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Notre Dame Church in Springvale. Interment with military honors will follow at the Southern Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Springvale. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a memorial contribution to the Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale. To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.