William J. Powers

Bill was born on November 19, 1948, in Yonkers, NY to Margaret Lane and Thomas F. Powers. He graduated from Sacred Heart High School and in June 1966 at the age of 17 enlisted with the United States Army. He served with the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One), Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 28th Infantry in Vietnam where he was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, a Bronze Service Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Congressman’s Medal of Merit, New York State Cross of Gallantry, the Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart. After returning from Vietnam and serving three years with the Army, he attended Iona College and earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He later married and had three children, William J. Jr., Kathleen, and Karyn.

Bill started his civilian career with the Westchester County Police in 1970 before joining the Yonkers Police Department in 1972 where he worked as a Police Officer for 23 years rising to the rank of Detective First Grade. Throughout his career, Bill received numerous awards including the Exchange Club Police Officer of the Year Award in 1983, The PBA’s John Silinsky Award for an off-duty arrest of a burglary in progress in 1991, and a Macy Award for solving a long and difficult homicide.

In 1983, he married Linda Ann Freddolino and in October of 1987 had a son, Tom. In 1993, Bill and Linda retired from the Yonkers Police Department and moved to Longmont, Colorado where Bill had a 16-year second career with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division. Bill worked the graveyard shift from 1994 to 2010 and was an active member with the Boulder Rural Fire Protection District. After retiring from the Sheriff’s Office, Bill became a part-time limousine driver and loved chatting with his customers on their way to and from the airport. Bill was an avid lover of golf, the New York Yankees, and enjoyed playing the football pool at the Red Zone (Pumphouse Brewery) in Longmont. Bill took pride in ensuring everyone he met laughed. He had an infectious outlook on life and would often say ‘in Vietnam he knew guys that never had a tomorrow’ and how fortunate he was to have 48 years of tomorrows.

He leaves behind his wife Linda Powers in Longmont, son William J. Powers and wife Sari, daughter Kathleen Scaglione and husband James, daughter Karyn Feder and husband Drew, son Thomas Powers and fiancé Stephanie, grandchildren Nicholas, Olivia, Katharine, Jason, and Justin, as well as countless friends. He is preceded in death by his mother Margaret, father Thomas Sr., brother Thomas Powers Jr. and his beloved golden retriever Kiah.

A wake will be held by Whalen and Ball Funeral Home in Yonkers, NY on Thursday October 28, 2021, between 3 and 7pm. There will be a 9:15am mass at Sacred Heart Church on Friday, October 29. Bill will be laid to rest at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Yonkers, NY. An additional wake and vigil will occur at Bill’s home of 28 years in Longmont, CO through the Ahlberg Funeral Home on October 25th (4pm) and 26th (10am) for local golf buddies and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Vietnam Veterans of America in Honor of William J. Powers.