William Thomas McCarriston, Jr.

Dr. William T. McCarriston, Jr. (89) passed on at his home, after a brief illness, with his son Jon by his side. He was the son of the late William T. McCarriston, Sr and Leona McCarriston, born in Boston, MA but resided in Lynn, MA. His passing follows the passing of his late wife, Laurie McCarriston in January, whom he had been married to for 7 years. William also survived two previous wives, Arlene McCarriston and Nanci Kendall. He is survived by his sister, Linda McCarriston of Gloucester and three sons: William T. McCarriston, III of Salem, Mark McCarriston his wife, Julie and their two children, Meaghan and Sarah, of Danvers, and Jon McCarriston his partner, Michelle Burchell and his two children, Jon and Amanda of Haverhill. He also leaves behind extended family from his second marriage, a sister-in-law Susan Gilkie of Waltham and her three sons: David Gilkie and partner, Lynn Bailey of Winchester, John Gilkie and wife, Marikje Abbes of Wakefield and Mark Gilkie and wife, Indiara of Lowell. Professionally, Dr. William T. McCarriston, Jr., has served more than twenty years as CEO of successful vocational rehabilitation organizations. He began his career with Goodwill Industries, Boston and Traverse City Michigan. He was responsible for building an effective continuum of vocational programs for severely disabled persons across all spectrums, including “hard to place” homeless persons. On returning to Boston, he was appointed to lead Community Workshops, (later Work Services) where he revitalized their vocational programming and introduced successful work with homeless persons earning the accolades of HUD Secretary Cuomo as A Program that Works. Bill never thought of his career as work… as he loved what he did. His academic affiliations include adjunct graduate faculty at Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Research and Clinical Associate at Boston University Sargent College. Professional publications include papers on human services administration and vocational rehabilitation. He has been recently co-principal investigator in a National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research study of placement and job retention for multi-disabled homeless persons. As a survey consultant with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF, for more than 25 years, he has consulted throughout the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. Dr. McCarriston has participated in several federally and privately sponsored professional panels as an expert on vocational rehabilitation and human service administration. Additionally, he has served as Chairman of the State Rehabilitation Council (MA) and as a fundraising speaker on behalf of United Way, Boston. He also served in the National Guard for 10 years. Seven of those 10 years he was the Commander of the Armory in Haverhill, MA. Bill was also involved in Freemasonry and was an active member with chapters in Boston, MA and Wilmington, NC. He was raised in 2010 to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Boston and Scottish Rite Valley of Boston and affiliated with St. John's Lodge No. 1 and the Scottish Rite Valley of Wilmington in 2015. He served as the Tyler in recent years in NC and on various committees in supporting the lodge, more especially regarding financial management. Bill was a devote husband to his late wife Laurie. She was the love of his life. He always counted his blessings as he shared his love and admiration for her. They enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, and just being with each other enjoying each day that passed. Services are private for family only.

William Thomas McCarriston, Jr.

February 24, 1936 - March 14, 2025