William Walsh Corcoran, “Bill” to his friends and “Pop” to his family, (91) died after a suffering a heart attack on Tuesday morning January 19, 2021.
Born on October 16, 1929, Bill was a life-long resident of Newport and a graduate of Rogers High (1947), the Portsmouth Priory (1948), Brown University (1951), and Boston College Law School (1958). He served as a deep sea diver in the US Navy, specializing in submarine rescue, before embarking in a long career as an attorney and senior counsel to Corcoran, Peckham, Hayes, Leys & Olaynack, P.C.
William served as a member of the Newport City Council from 1967-1971, and he was a member of the Redevelopment Agency of Newport, which was responsible for the transition of Goat Island from a derelict torpedo plant to a hotel, marina, and public space, the development of Brick Market Place, the renovation of Bannister’s and Bowen’s Wharves, and the upgrading of Newport’s sewage system, ending of the practice of dumping sewage