Joseph P. Cloherty

Waltham – Mr. Joseph P. Cloherty, of Waltham, formerly of Watertown, died Saturday, September 5, 2009 at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in West Roxbury. He was 78. Joe was born in Watertown on June 6, 1931 and was a son of the late Joseph and Delia (Sullivan) Cloherty. He lived in Watertown before moving to Waltham fifty-two years ago. Joe was a 1948 graduate of St. Patrick's High School in Watertown, where he was the captain of the football team. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1952, where, in addition to serving his country during the Korean War, he also continued to play football. He was a member of the Carpenters Union from the mid 1950's and moved to Waltham in 1957, where he started his own construction company. For over 50 years, Joe specialized in home additions, as well as remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, focusing primarily in the Weston, Newton and Waltham areas. Joe continued to work past his 77th birthday and had a long business affiliation and close friendship with a number of well known Waltham contractors including plumbers, the late John Connearney and his sons Stephen and Kevin, electrician James Giles and masons and plasterers Edward Stankard and his son Michael. Joe's eldest son and namesake, Joseph Jr., has his own construction business on Martha's Vineyard. Joe was also an avid New England Patriots fan and routinely attended a number of games into his mid 70's with his sons and granddaughter, Meaghan, including attending the Patriots storied 'Snow Bowl' playoff victory against the Raiders in 2001 when he was 70 years old. Joe was the devoted father of Joseph Cloherty, Jr. of Vineyard Haven, Michael Cloherty and his wife, Jennifer, of Chappaqua, New York, Kevin Cloherty and his wife, Ann, of Braintree, James Cloherty and his wife, Judy, of Attleboro, Janet McCue and her husband, Steven, of Shrewsbury, and Katherine Peterson and her husband, Michael of Marlboro and he was the loving grandfather of Jordan Cloherty, Meaghan and Shannon Cloherty, Matthew and Bryan Cloherty, Jameson and Brady McCue and Kaylee Peterson. He was also a brother of Mary Sheehan of Wellesley, Margaret Cloherty of Watertown, Barbara Chagnon of Falmouth and the late Ann Fagan and John Cloherty. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and his former wife, Jeannette M. (Hines) Cloherty of Waltham. Family and friends will honor and remember Joe's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury. Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or online at www.dav.org