Obituaries

In Memory of Bill ("Kojak") Reagan: Inventor, Community Servant, Entertainer, and Much More

A tribute to the man who saved policemen's lives with his LoJack invention.

Written by Richard DeSorgher in memory of Bill Reagan.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Reagan Family with the [July 1] death of Bill Reagan. I had the honor and privilege of serving with him on the Board of Selectmen back in 1980 and was deeply sadden to hear of his passing.

The following is a re-print of a story I wrote on him in the Hometown Weekly in 2011.

To Save Police Officers’ Lives


Here in Medfield he picked up the nickname “Kojak,” based on the 1970s TV show that revolved around the efforts of the tough and incorruptible New York City Police Lieutenant Theo Kojak, played by Telly Savalas. William R. Reagan came to Medfield with his wife Genevieve in 1967, one of the first to settle in the newly built Indian Hill Road estates. As a four-year varsity hockey star himself at the Boston Latin School and St. Sebastian’s, Bill quickly became involved in the beginnings of the Medfield Youth Hockey Program and served as coach and member of the Board of Directors for many years; in the process seeing his own two boys make their mark on the Youth Hockey Program and on the Medfield High School Hockey Team.

Before coming to Medfield, Bill Reagan, a member of Notre Dame’s Class of 1957, entered the United States Navy during the height of the Cold War, serving as a Patrol Plane Commander aboard the P2V aircraft that patrolled our coasts, watching for Soviet subs and spy ships. He married Geneviere (Kelleher) in 1961 and received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1962. Arriving in Medfield in 1967 Bill moved from Director of Corporate Development at Avco Corporation to the founding of his own company; W.R. Reagan and Associates, Inc, a merger and acquisition company. Bill quickly became involved with his new “hometown,” running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in 1976 and winning in a four-way race. Bill always had a strong concern for the safety and well being of police officers and, probably more than any other Medfield selectman in the past, or since, he took the selectmen's role as police commissioners very seriously. As selectman, Bill worked closely with Medfield police officers and was a strong supporter in the drive to move the police department out of their cramped quarters in Town Hall to their own building, now on 110 North Street. The new building officially opened on December 30, 1977.

It was his concern for police officers and his desire to “save cops’ lives” as a result of routine traffic stops that Bill invented the recovery system for stolen vehicles that he named LoJack. A U.S. Patent was issued to Bill for his invention in 1979. In 1986 Bill went on to form LoJack Corporation where he served as chairman and chief executive officer.

Bill’s idea for LoJack has since gone national and international and is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.  Bill’s LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System grew and succeeded because of the fierce determination of early employees. LoJack provided a revolutionary way to both identify stolen vehicles and to arrest criminals, who were often involved with more serious crimes. As a result, Bill has been responsible for saving unknown numbers of police officer lives.

In 1986, LoJack recruited local hometowner Sergeant Patrick Clancy directly from the Medfield Police Department. Pat was born and brought up in Medfield and was a standout athlete at Medfield High School, where he graduated in 1967. Pat joined the Medfield Police Department in April of 1970 at the age of 21, the legal age for becoming an officer. With the war in Vietnam in full swing, Pat was drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 515th Military Police Company. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1972 and rejoined the Medfield Police. He was promoted to sergeant in 1980.

Pat’s role with LoJack was to travel to police departments nationwide, demonstrate the system and enlist their support for using it to fight auto theft in their specific area(s). Today, Patrick Clancy is LoJack’s Vice President of Law Enforcement and oversees the company’s staff of Law Enforcement Liaisons (LELs), all former police officers who work directly with law enforcement officials supporting them in their fight against car theft. With 16 years of experience with the Medfield Police Department and more than 25 years of law enforcement service at LoJack, Clancy is an expert on the subject of vehicle theft and protection. Pat has been frequently quoted in print, online and broadcast media, and has published numerous articles on theft protection.

In 1986, Bill Reagan left LoJack. After a brief move out of Medfield, Bill and Gen Reagan are back living in their adopted hometown. As a Medfield Selectman, Bill Reagan saw a way he could save the lives of police officers.  

According to Pat Clancy: “There is no question that Bill’s invention, LoJack,  has saved the lives of many police officers. LoJack has helped law enforcement recover well over 300,000 stolen vehicles world-wide, and many of these recoveries involved crimes other than just the theft of the vehicle. As keeper of the LoJack records when it comes to recoveries, I have seen these vehicles involved in homicides, kidnappings, drug deals, bank robberies, armored-car robberies, shootings, burglaries, and just about any crime you can think of. When a police officer receives a LoJack signal from a stolen vehicle, he goes into a defensive posture, knowing that he could well be tracking someone who is about to, or has just committed a violent crime. The officer will orchestrate his resources, timing, and geography so that he can recover that vehicle with the least amount of risk to him, his fellow officers, and the public.”

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Today, the idea of LoJack is a 25-year reality and an untold number of police officers are around today and are safer today and countless numbers of stolen cars are returned to their owners today, all because of a visionary entrepreneur by the name of William R. Reagan.

Funeral Services

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Calling Hours: Sunday, July 7, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Roberts-Mitchell Funeral Home, 15 Miller Street, Medfield.

Funeral Mass: Monday, July 8, 10 a.m., St. Edward the Confessor Church, 133 Spring Street, Medfield.

Internment: Tuesday, July 9, 10:45 a.m., National Cemetery, Bourne 

Obituary

William R. Reagan, died after a courageous battle with Alzhieimer’s Disease July 1, 2013 surrounded by his family. He is predeceased by his parents Dr. William H. and Alice (Conner) Reagan, his sister Brenda Reagan Kennedy and granddaughter Samantha Grace Reagan. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Genevieve (Kelleher), their children Maryalice Reagan Whalen and husband James of Medfield, Lisa Reagan Hendrix and husband Todd of Medfield, William H. Reagan of South Lebanon, OH and Michael Reagan and wife Jane of Boulder CO. He leaves behind 11 beloved grandchildren; Kathryn, Benjamin and Matthew Whalen; Michael and Alexander Hendrix; Jacob, Kailey, Sara and Conner Reagan; and Jack and Brian Reagan.

Bill grew up in Dorchester and attended St. Sabastian’s School where he was a standout hockey player. He was a member of the Class of 1957 at The University of Notre Dame. He became a Naval aviator and served until 1963. Among many of his business ventures, Bill founded. Reagan Associates, a small M&A firm in 1972. In the late 1970’s he founded Lo-Jack Corporation where he served as Chairman and CEO until 1986.

In addition to his professional career, Bill was a cofounder of Medfield Youth Hockey where he also coached for many years. He served as a Medfield Selectman from 1976-1981. An avid birder, painter, golfer, philosopher and sports fan (especially his beloved Fighting Irish, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots), there was nothing in the world that made him happier than to be with his family and friends. Bill shared his exuberance and love of life with everyone he met. Whether he was telling a story, delivering a joke or singing his rendition of “Hello Dolly”, Bill was quite the entertainer; he loved making people laugh! Bill left this world a happier and kinder place. 


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