Methuen: William J. "Will" Diodati, 94, a retired Captain of the Lawrence Fire Department, died Saturday morning, June 6, 2020 after being stricken in his home.

Born in Lawrence, son of the late Paul and Christina Diodati, and one of fourteen children, he attended Lawrence Public Schools before joining the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of seventeen in 1942. He served honorably as a Private First Class, as one of nine brothers who also served their country during World War Two.

Captain "Bill" Diodati joined the Fire Department in 1956 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1972 and later Captain in 1982 and was in charge of the stations on Lowell St, Park St., and Ames St. before retiring in 1989.

A longtime fan and benefactor of the Lawrence High School athletic program, he especially enjoyed supporting the football and basketball programs as well as the Summer Basketball League. He and his wife were recognized by the Lawrence High School sports program for their generosity and support.

Mr. Diodati was a member of the 100 Club of Massachusetts, a Past-President of the Lawrence Veterans' Council, and a lifetime-time member of the Marine Corps League as well as Past-Commandant of the former Merrimack Valley Detachment.

Mr. Diodati was one of the original 100 season ticket holders of the New England Patriots issued at Sullivan Stadium. He was a lifelong avid and diehard fan of the Patriots since the beginning of the franchise, through the bad times as well as the winning years. He traveled sometimes with the team and the Kraft Family to away games in his younger years. A picture of him sitting in the pouring rain in the last minutes of a losing game, in the early years, hangs in the Patriots Place Museum in Foxboro. Among his other interests, he was very proud of his home and enjoyed taking care of his yard and gardens and his dog "Happy".

He is survived by his wife of seventy-two years, Cora N. (Canto) Diodati, three brothers, Frank Diodati of Gloucester, Robert Diodati of Lawrence, and Peter Diodati of Danville, NH, two sisters, Rita Teoli of Lawrence and Flora Dizazzo of Shelton, CT, and several nieces, nephews and great and great-grand nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers, James, Flavio, Victor, Raymond and Dominic Diodati and sisters, Adeline Tornatore, Marie Keamy and Gloria Nardozza.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his calling hours on Thursday morning, June 11, 2020 from 10 a.m. until 12 Noon at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. Those attending are asked to follow the social distancing guidelines issued by the State of NH, including the wearing of masks inside of the funeral home. His funeral service will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Military Honors Area on the funeral home grounds, followed by burial in Belleview Cemetery in Lawrence with honors rendered by the U.S. Marine Corps. Please show your support to the family during this difficult time by visiting our website at www.brooksidechapelfh.com to send a message of condolence or share a cherished memory with the family.