William I Hudgins Jr

William (Bill) Hudgins died suddenly and peacefully at home in Belmont, MA on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at the age of 81.

Bill, born on Oct. 4, 1942, was the son of William I. Hudgins, Sr. and Esther Hudgins (Fatone) of New York, New York.

Bill graduated from Curtis High School on Staten Island, New York, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from The City College of New York (CCNY) and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas in Austin. He did an internship at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA and a post-doc in Chapel Hill, NC before returning to the Boston area and starting a long psychology career helping children, adolescents and adults in community health center, hospital, and court clinic settings and in his private practice.

Bill worked at the Laboure Clinic in South Boston, the South Shore Mental Health Center, the Judge Baker Guidance Center, and for the Forensic Division of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health at court clinics in Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Dorchester, and Malden. He participated in the Massachusetts Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee and the State Board of Registration for many years. He enjoyed and valued both his patients and his colleagues at all of these places. Outside of work, Bill was quite the outdoorsman, and enjoyed biking, skiing, hiking in the White Mountains, and sea kayaking. He was proud of navigating (and surviving!) Boston traffic by bicycle for years to get to work.

In his retirement Bill enjoyed reading history, his dog Caleb, and the Oak Square YMCA which became his second home, with Bill swimming half a mile every day. Bill was active in many aspects of Payson Park Church, in Belmont, MA. But nothing gave him more pleasure than having lunch with and spending time with his son, Ken.

Bill leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years, Katherine (Kay Buchholtz) Hudgins, and his cherished son, Kenneth Cockrell Hudgins of Beverly, MA and Hull, MA. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Brooke and Sienna Hudgins of Beverly, MA and by cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and by his brother Joseph Hudgins of Ashland, OR. In addition, Bill leaves behind many special friends and colleagues who greatly enriched his life.

A memorial service will be held for Bill on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont Street, Belmont, MA 02478.

In remembrance of Bill’s life, the family asks that in lieu of flowers charitable donations be made to Adolescent Consultation Services (ACS), 189 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 or online at www.acskids.org/donate. Please note on the check or online that the donation is in memory of Bill Hudgins.

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