Wilfred W. Greene, Jr. “Willie” aka “Chief Eagle Heart” of Warwick, RI passed away at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, February 18, 2016.
Born on June 12, 1937 he was a son of the late Rita (Kearns) Greene and Wilfred William Greene. Willie served as the active Chief of the Seaconke Wamponoag Tribe “Wamponoag Nation”. He was on the board of directors for the RI Heritage Hall of Fame and was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was the owner of W. Greene and Sons’ Asphalt Paving and was a retired poker dealer for Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Willie was a versatile South Providence athlete. He excelled in track, football, and boxing. He was known for getting “more ink than the Governor” in the Providence Journal and no neighborhood fighter ever achieved such prominence. “Wild Willie,” as he was affectionately called, became the New England middleweight champion and the seventh-ranked middleweight in the world in the days when there was one division and one official ranking. He had a career record of 30-7, 20 wins by KO and fought in two world class matches. One in 1961 at Wembley Stadium in London, England in front of 90,000 people and the final fight of his career at the Boston Garden in Boston, MA in 1963.
He was a brother of Gerald A. Greene and beloved husband of the late Germaine “Blue Dove” Greene; loving father of Susan Ruxton, Rhoda Skorupa, Desiree Perry, Erin Morrison, Stasia Buccini, Wilfred W. Greene III, and John Greene. He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and his beloved dog, Rocky.
His funeral will be held Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 10 a.m. from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Rita Church, Oakland Beach Ave. at 10:30 a.m. Burial with military honors will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Visiting hours Saturday 8-10am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Rita Church, 722 Oakland Beach Ave., Warwick, RI 02889, will be appreciated. Information and condolences, visit TheQuinnFuneralHome.com
