William J. Cavanaugh Jr.

William “Billy” J. Cavanaugh Jr., 74, of Manchester, passed away suddenly on October 21, 2025.

He was born at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, on February 24, 1951 to Joyce (Carter) and William Cavanaugh Sr. With his father in the Navy, he lived on different naval bases across the country and attended many different elementary schools—13 to be exact—from San Diego, CA and Groton, CT to Norfolk, VA and Charleston, SC. Travelling extensively in his youth, he learned early on how to make friends with ease. He and his family later settled in Salem, NH.

Growing up, Billy was a proud boy scout, an experience that imbued him with his lifelong passion for service. When he was a teenager, his father bought him his first guitar; his Uncle Casey taught him a few chords, and the rest was rock n’ roll history. Billy’s love of the guitar, music, and songwriting would follow him through the rest of his life. He went on to play in many bands throughout his youth, winning a high school “battle of the bands” competition with his group “Sic Et Non.” In his free time, it would be rare to find him without a guitar in his hands.

He graduated from Bishop England High School in Charleston, SC. He then went on to attend Merrimack College and Northeastern University where he earned his bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate.

Billy was a multi-sport athlete. He played high school football across many different schools as a “pulling” guard on the offensive line, where he showcased his natural quickness. He was an avid tennis player throughout his life, most notably as a player for the Merrimack College team. He later taught tennis lessons, as well.

After college, Billy started his long career in policing with the Salem, NH Police Department. In 1982, he was hired to the Manchester Police Department where he worked for 25 years. In his time with the MPD, he worked his way up from patrolman to juvenile detective and eventually to sergeant. His greatest pride as a police officer was his time in Crime Prevention/Community Policing Divisions, where he served as a resource officer in the D.A.R.E. program. During this time, Billy used his passions for teaching and working with young people, as he became fondly known as “Officer Friendly” across Manchester schools. He also dedicated his time to the Police Athletic League. In this role, he went on to incorporate his love of music by co-founding the all-police band “Friends in Blue,” who performed across the community and in schools. After 25 years with the MPD, Billy retired from municipal police work in 2003. He immediately took a position with the Manchester VA Medical Center Police Department, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. During his time at the VA, he loved to play his guitar and entertain the veterans and was a friend to all who worked in the hospital. While serving at the VA Police Department, Billy also worked as a part-time police officer with the Auburn Police Department from 2004 to 2007. He retired after a 20-year career with the VA Police Department in 2023. In the years following his retirements from MPD and the VA, he loved to keep in touch with his fellow police officers and retirees. He was a believer in the brotherhood and sisterhood of the force, always referring to his former officers as “brother” or “sister” when he ran into them in the community.

Billy filled his free time by pursuing his many passions. He continued writing songs his whole life, often performing at various open mics and functions. He was a natural storyteller with a larger-than-life personality and a quick sense of humor who loved to talk about his many experiences and adventures as a police officer and as a young man travelling the country. He was an enthusiast for classic cars and movies, a history buff, an animal lover, and a sports fan. He enjoyed watching tennis matches and Patriots games on Sundays with his wife, Doreen. In recent years, he pursued his love of education and learning, taking classes at UNH Manchester. He loved his wife and three daughters more than anything in the world.

He is survived by his loving wife Doreen (Palmer) of Manchester; his children, Meg Cavanaugh of Manchester, Beth and Philip Marshall, of Berwick, ME, and Mary Kate Cavanaugh and Jake DeSchuiteneer of Manchester; stepchildren, Kim Pohas, of Irvine, CA, and Darryl and Amanda Pohas of Waltham, MA; grandchildren, Nolan Cavanaugh, Orson, Angalina, and Edmund Marshall; his former spouse, Kathy Cavanaugh of Manchester; and many other family, friends and neighbors. He had many beloved pets throughout his life and leaves behind Bigsby, his dog and companion.

Billy was predeceased by his father, William Cavanaugh Sr. and mother, Joyce (Carter) Cavanaugh of Salem NH.

He will be remembered as a caring, compassionate, and generous person, with a smile that could light up a room. His legacy lives on through the love he shared, the countless lives he changed for the better, and the kindness he showed to everyone he met. As he always said, “I’ve never met a stranger.”

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 30th from 2 - 6pm at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm Street, Manchester, NH. A police walkthrough will take place promptly at 2pm. Any law enforcement officers wishing to take part in the walkthrough should start to assemble at the funeral home at 1:45pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Billy’s name can be made to a charity of your choice. The places most important to him were; NHSPCA, Manchester Animal Shelter, Darbster Rescue, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.