William John Ferreira, a longtime educator for the City of Melrose, passed away at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Tuesday, February 4, 2014. He was 88 years old. Mr. Ferreira was born in East Boston on March 5, 1925, was raised in East Boston before moving to Medford as a child. William graduated from Medford High School and entered the US Marines at the age of 17. He served his country with pride in the US Marine during WWII as a rifle marksman before being discharged as a Staff Sergeant. Mr. Ferreira continued his education with an undergraduate degree and master's degree at Tufts University and was very proud of earning his certificate of advance studies from Harvard University. Bill taught science at Coolidge School in Melrose and continued his career as vice principal and principal. After the school closed he went on to be a principal at the Roosevelt and Horace Mann Schools in Melrose. During his retirement Bill continued to work in the general accounting office at the Tip O'Neil Building in Boston and then in the information center at the Deaconess Hospital. Mr. Ferreira shared his passion for education by volunteering at the literacy center in Malden for many years. Bill has been a resident of Melrose since 1958, was a current member of Incarnation Church in Melrose and a former member of St. Agnes Church and Most Blessed Sacrament Church. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Grace to Portugal, Italy, British Isles, Turkey and Alaska and cherished the times spent with his family. Bill was the beloved husband of 64 years to Grace M. (Selvitella) Ferreira. Devoted father of William J. Ferreira & his wife Andrea of Maine, Adele Ferreira of Somerville, Paul F. Ferreira & his wife Kathy, Edward A. Ferreira & his wife Patty all of Maine, Grace M. Ferreira & Jim Hage of Alaska and Jeffrey J. Ferreira & his wife Sharon of Ipswich. Loving grandfather of Emily, Elizabeth, Atticus, Keenan, Jesse, Jacob, Luke, Devin, Keeshawn, Paul, Eric & Meghan. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. on Saturday, February 8th at 11:00AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Incarnation Church 425 Upham St. Melrose at 12noon. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Gately Funeral Home on Friday from 5:00-8:00PM. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose with military honors. WWII Marine Corps Veteran. Memorial contributions may be made in William's name to Lymphoma Research Foundation 115 Broadway, Suite 1301, NY, NY, 10006 or www.lymphoma.org.