William “Bill” Stephen Wadsworth III, 54, of Hilliard Road in Cornish, NH died on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family after a year of struggling with pancreatic cancer.

Bill was born in Medford, MA on December 25, 1958 the son of William S. and Luise (Paukert) Wadsworth, Jr.  He graduated from Chelmsford High School in Chelmsford, MA and then attended classes at Middlesex Community College in Bedford, MA, Northeastern University in Burlington, MA and Southeastern Mass. University in Dartmouth, MA.  Bill worked in the mattress fabrication industry until he started his law enforcement career with the Claremont Police Department in September of 1986.  Bill was a Sewing Room Production Foreman at Bourdon’s Inc. in Claremont, NH from 1985 to 1986.  He worked for Imperial Mattress Co. in Peabody, MA from 1983 -1985 as a production manager. 

Bill graduated from the 78^th Class of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training’s Full Time Police Academy in June of 1987 ranked third in his class. 

In February of 1999 Bill was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  While Bill spent most of his career as a Patrol Officer and Patrol Supervisor, he also spent several years as the Juvenile Officer and Detective.  Bill was a D.A.R.E. instructor for many years teaching both in the Claremont and Cornish Schools.  Bill was a valued trainer with instructor certifications in all firearms including pistol, semi-automatic rifle and shotgun.  Bill was also a certified Defensive Tactics instructor, an ASP and Baton instructor and a certified Special Weapons and Tactics operator.  Bill’s calm and personable demeanor made him an exceptional police officer and instructor.  

Over his twenty years of service with the Claremont Police Department Sergeant Wadsworth earned many commendations including: Letters of Commendation, Duty Citation Medals, Good Conduct Awards, Department Commendations, Drug Enforcement Awards, Exceptional Duty Awards, Grand Cordon Awards, and the Gallantry Star.  Sergeant Wadsworth was nominated Employee of the Year in 2003 by the Claremont Police Commission following his nomination by a majority vote of his peers.

Bill loved the outdoors and working on his homestead in Cornish.  He owned and operated Cornish Technologies. Bill was a member of and past Treasurer of the Sullivan County Law Enforcement Association.  He also previously served as a Scoutmaster and committee member of Cornish Boy Scout Troop 332.  He was an Assistant Treasurer of the United Church of Cornish and also a Trustee. His loss leaves a big hole in the collective heart of the Claremont Police Department.

Sergeant Wadsworth is survived by his wife, Beth A. (Girard) whom he married on June 24, 1989; his mother, Luise Wadsworth; three children, Josh LeBlanc and his wife, Lori of Cornish, Jacob LeBlanc of Cornish and Misty LeBlanc and her fiancé, Richard Robbins of Newport; three grandchildren, Dylan LeBlanc, Lindsay Caruso and Anthony Caruso; two great grandchildren, Madilyn and Paxton; one sister, Lori Wadsworth and her husband, Nicholas Charles of Cornish.

He was preceded in death by his father and a granddaughter, Makenzie Robbins.

Friends and family may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8PM.

Funeral services will be held at the Funeral Home on Saturday, March 2^nd at 11:00AM with Rev. Dale Nicholas, officiating. A reception will follow at the Claremont Elks Lodge on Pleasant Street. Burial will be in the spring at the Edminster Cemetery in Cornish.