Joseph Doyle, Jr.

Joseph E. Doyle Jr., 81, died Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at Epoch Senior Healthcare of Harwich. Born on May 1, 1929 to Joseph E. and Madelyn G. Doyle, he was raised in his hometown of Brockton.

He is survived by his daughters Patricia A. Kelly, Maura A. and husband Gary Burns of North Eastham and Catherine E. Connolly of Belchertown; his sons Gerard P. of Dedham, Joseph E. of Harwich, Sean M. of Truro, Terrence T. of Harwich and Matthew G. and wife Anne of Capistrano Beach, Calif. He was predeceased by his daughter Megan M. Doyle of Milton. Surviving are his two sisters Marilyn A. Doyle of Penn. and Virginia F. Noone of Brockton. He leaves 15 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and 7 nephews. He will be missed by his dear friend and companion Virginia Wiley of Orleans.

Joseph was an avid historian, had a voracious appetite for the written word, both fiction and non-fiction, and a passion for raising vegetable gardens, both of which he has passed on to his children and their children. He had a wonderful sense of humor which he shared with everyone he met. He was dedicated to the Red Sox and Patriots.

A 1947 graduate of Brockton High School, he was selected to several All Scholastic Football Teams by The Boston Traveler Newspaper and had three years of State Football Championships. In 1952 he earned an AB with the First Graduating Class of Stonehill College in Easton and began his teaching career at Fr. Baker High School in Lackawanna, N.Y. He received an Honorable Discharge after serving with the U. S. Marine Corps from 1953 to 1955, as well as an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as a Permanent Captain. In 1956 he returned to teaching History and Phys Ed and served as football coach at East Bridgewater Jr. HS and Hingham Jr. HS. He graduated in 1960 from Portia Law School in Boston, passing the Massachusetts and Federal Bars in 1961 and 1962 respectively. He practiced law for twenty years in Orleans.

Our thanks to Elder Services of CC, the Visiting Nurses Assoc. and the dedicated home care workers who were a great comfort to him.

Interment will take place at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 11 a.m. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Orleans Fire and Rescue Dept., 58 Eldredge Parkway, Orleans, MA 02653 or The Lower Cape Outreach Council, P.O. Box 665, Orleans, MA 02653.