William Daniel Lavery, Jr.
William Daniel Lavery, Jr. was born on January 6, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were William Daniel Lavery, Sr. and Jeanne E. Barnes Lavery. Bill had two brothers, John Lavery and Robert Lavery.
When Bill was young, his family moved across the Delaware River from Philadelphia and settled in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Bob graduated from Haddonfield High School in 1959. He went on the attend Rutgers University where he majored in economics. He was a member of the varsity swim team while at Rutgers. During the summers he worked as a lifeguard for the Ventnor City Beach Patrol on the Atlantic coast in Ventnor City, New Jersey.
On June 5, 1963, after his graduation from Rutgers, Bill entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant where he served for five and one half years. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam and later at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was discharged from the service on December 16, 1968 with the rank of Captain.
During his military service while serving at Fort Campbell, he met Mary Louise Jones of Trigg County, Kentucky. Mary Louise was the daughter of Thomas Lacy Jones and Mary Agnes Thomas Jones, natives of Trigg County. Mary Louise was a descendant of Starkie Thomas. On August 13, 1967, Bill and Mary Louise were married at the Cadiz Baptist Church in Cadiz, Kentucky. Following their wedding, they lived at Fort Campbell, Kentucky until Bill completed his military service.
After his military service, Bill and Mary Louise moved to his home town, Haddonfield, New Jersey. Bill enrolled in Rutgers University Law School. After his graduation with his law degree in 1972, Bill obtained a federal clerkship with Judge John J. Kitchen. His next position was that of Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Camden, New Jersey office. He was subsequently appointed as the head of the U.S. Attorney's office in Trenton, New Jersey. In December of 1975 he was honored in Washington, DC with a Special Commendation for Outstanding Service by the Department of Justice.
In 1977 Bill entered private practice with the firm of Hyland, Davis and Reberkenny. His specialty was public utility law, and over the years he was recognized for his skills. In 2000 his firm merged with Cozen O'Connor where he practiced until his death. He received many accolades from his peers in New Jersey and the American Bar Association for his work.
Bill and Mary Louise were the parents of two children, a son, William Daniel Lavery, III, born in 1972 and Susannah Thomas Lavery, born in 1976. Bill died on February 19, 2007 at the age of 65 and was buried in the Haddonfield Methodist Cemetery in Haddonfield.
William in the Military
Tombstone of William D. Lavery, Jr.
LINEAGE: (William Daniel Lavery, Jr. was the husband of Mary Louise Jones Lavery. Mary Louise is the daughter of Thomas Lacy and Mary Agnes Thomas Jones, granddaughter of William Robert and Emma Rogers Thomas and great-granddaughter of Robert Allison and Emma Nora Cunningham Thomas. Robert was the fifth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas. Mary Bridges was the seventh child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.)
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