Captain William Francis Haney

Age 91
Formerly of Cranford

Captain William (Bill) Francis Haney longtime resident of Cranford and Boca Raton, FL, passed away on January 23 in Somerset Medical Center in Somerville.

Growing up in Hoboken with his parents, William and Elizabeth, and 5 brothers and sisters, Captain Haney graduated from St. Benedict’s in Elizabeth and Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy on Long Island. Upon graduation, Captain Haney was immediately sent into WWII, one of the youngest captains in the war. He remained a member of the King’s Point Alumni throughout his career. Mr. Haney later served as Captain of the Ultramar supertanker and survived a robbery by pirates in the Straits of Malacca. In 1991, Captain Haney aided in the first Gulf War by transporting military equipment to Bahrain. For that effort as well as a lifetime of service, Captain Haney was awarded the first Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal by VP Quayle at Kings Point.

Captain Haney has joined his brothers and sisters Vincent, Bernadette, Rita, and Matt and his wife of 39 years, Marie. He is survived by his brother Gerard and his children Jeanne, Bill, Mark, and Paul, his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation will be on Sunday, January 27, from 2pm to 5pm at Cusick Funeral Home in Somerville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:30am on Monday, January 28, at the Immaculate Conception Church, Somerville. Burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be sent in his name to the Merchant Marine Academy, Steamboat Road, Kings Point, NY. 11024