Monsignor William Michael Naughton

Reverend Monsignor William “Willy” Michael Naughton, PhD., Retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Airforce passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, while receiving the loving care of his family.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Bernard and Helen (nee Fleming) Naughton who were recent Irish immigrants to the United States. An interesting back-story to Fr. Bill’s dad is that while he was in Ireland he belonged to the original IRA.  While there the “black and tans” (Irish Constables) came looking for him, he recalls family stories about his father being hidden by the clergy-underground. Surely these events inspired the family move to the United States. It is interesting to know the home in the town of Ballinasloe, County Galway is still owned by the Naughton family. 

In his early youth Fr. Bill’s family moved to 521 West 186th Street in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, NY. He attended Saint Elizabeths Elementary School in Washington Heights when, at the age of 7, his father passed away. At the time of his passing his father was a member of the Irish Bartenders Association, that’s code for being an associate of the Irish Mob, and the proprietor of Naughton’s Bar & Grill on 125th Street in Manhattan.  The family had to sell the business to pay for his dad’s medical bills.  

Fr. Bill graduated from Bishop DuBois High School in the Harlem section of Manhattan with the Class of 1963. He continued his education at Cathedral College in the Little Neck section of Queens, NY and went on to Saint Josephs “Dunwoodie” Seminary in Yonkers, NY where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. 

During Fr. Bill’s four years of Seminary, he took a year off and worked for the Holy Name Center for Homeless Men at 18 Bleeker Street in NYC. Fr. Bill was put in charge of the facility for a year and oversaw the opening at 3AM where the homeless would shower and shave. Fr. Bill transferred from New York to the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey and finished his Masters of Divinity at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, He was ordained on April 8, 1972 at Saint Virgil’s Church in Morris Plains. Fr. Bill was awarded the honor of becoming a Monsignor in June of 1998.

After his ordination, Fr. Bill served as 1st Associate Team Minister at Saint Brendan’s Church in Clifton for eighteen years. During his tenure at St. Brendan’s, he continued his studies at New York Theological Seminary in NYC and received his Master’s Degree in Sacred Theology and received a second Doctorate Degree in Ministry.  He also received his MBA and PhD in Theological Studies from Notre Dame’s Theological Consortium. Fr. Bill, being devoted to his country, graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO and served in the Invasion of Iraq and the Persian Gulf War having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal before being Honorably Discharged on April 22, 2004.

In 2004, Fr. Bill arrived at Straight & Narrow, a recovery center, overseen by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Paterson.  He was part of the Pastoral Care Team where he continued to minister to the many clients there.  Fr. Bill, affectionately called Fr. Willie by many, worked tirelessly and faithfully helping others in their recovery.  He coordinated the visits of the Gospel Choir to various parishes, made sure the clients and their families were remembered at Christmas time and devotedly made sure mass was celebrated weekly, even after a devastating fire destroyed some of the facility.  Fr. Bill rallied to gather support for those who lost belongings in the fire, making sure they had clothes and food to eat.  There wasn’t anything Fr. Bill did not embrace when he saw a need. He put smiles on the many faces of the people of Straight & Narrow, both the clients and the friends he made there. His humbleness will never be forgotten by the lives he touched at Straight & Narrow.

He was the loving brother of the late Patrick Naughton and the late Maureen Hannigan; Beloved uncle of Mary & Michael Del Balso of Wayne, Terry and Rob Tighe of Wayne, Kelly Hannigan of Wayne, Colleen & Billy Loschiavo of Maywood, Patrick Naughton of Middletown, NY, the late Michael Naughton and his wife Donna of Summerville, SC, Tara Naughton of Hollywood FL. He was also the devoted uncle of many great-nieces and nephews and was dearly loved by his extended family and many friends. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Monsignor William Naughton's name may be made to , Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson, Straight and Narrow 775 Valley Rd, Clifton, NJ 07013.