A funeral Mass was held on Sept. 25 in St. James of the Marches Church in Totowa for Msgr. William “Willy” Michael Naughton, Ph.D. He was a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and priest who served the Paterson Diocese for 52 years. He died on Sept. 18.
Msgr. Naughton was born in Boston to the late Bernard and Helen (nee Fleming) Naughton, recent Irish immigrants to the United States. Early in his youth, his family moved to the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, N.Y. The priest’s father died when he was 7.
In 1963, Msgr. Naughton graduated from Bishop DuBois High School in Harlem, N.Y. He continued his education at Cathedral College in the Little Neck section of Queens, N.Y. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Joseph “Dunwoodie” Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y.
Then, Msgr. Naughton took a year off to work for the Holy Name Center for Homeless Men in New York City. He transferred from the New York Archdiocese to the Paterson Diocese. He earned a Master of Divinity at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md.
Msgr. Naughton was ordained a priest in 1972 in St. Virgil Church in Morris Plains. He was named a monsignor in 1998.
Afterward, Msgr. Naughton was associate team minister at St. Brendan’s Parish in Clifton for 18 years. While at St. Brendan’s, he earned a master’s degree in sacred theology and a second doctorate in ministry from the New York Theological Seminary. He also earned a master’s in business administration and a doctorate in theological studies from Notre Dame’s Theological Consortium.
Msgr. Naughton graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. He served in the invasion of Iraq and the Persian Gulf War, having attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal before being honorably discharged in 2004.
That year, Msgr. Naughton started his ministry at Straight & Narrow in Paterson, run by Catholic Charities of the Paterson Diocese. Known as “Father Bill,” he was part of the Pastoral Care Team, helping clients in recovery.
At Straight & Narrow, Msgr. Naughton coordinated the visits of the Gospel Choir to various parishes, made sure the clients and their families were remembered at Christmas time, and made sure Mass was celebrated weekly. He helped people at the facility when he saw a need and made them smile.
Msgr. Naughton was the brother of the late Patrick Naughton and the late Maureen Hannigan.
He was the uncle of Mary and Michael Del Balso of Wayne, Terry and Rob Tighe of Wayne, Kelly Hannigan of Wayne, Colleen and Billy Loschiavo of Maywood, Patrick Naughton of Middletown, N.Y., the late Michael Naughton and his wife Donna of Summerville, S.C., and Tara Naughton of Hollywood, Fla. He also was an uncle to many great-nieces and nephews.
Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Paterson.
Memorial donations in Msgr. Naughton’s name can be made to Straight & Narrow c/o Catholic Charities, Paterson Diocese, 775 Valley Rd., Clifton, N.J. 07013.
