OBITUARY FOR JOSEPH THOMAS MAHER

Joseph Thomas Maher of Chandler, AZ, formerly of Brockton, MA, passed away with family at his side on February 18, 2025 after a brief illness.

Born on January 3, 1953, Joe was the beloved son of the late Thomas and Nancy (Siccone) Maher. He was raised in a strong and colorful Italian/Irish household in Watertown, MA. His early years were spent going to school during the day, then running to South Station in Boston to join his railroad conductor dad at work on the trains. Joe took great pride in telling the story that he would drive the commuter trains all by himself at 13 years old, while his dad and the engineer would “pop” themselves a cold one in the back of the engine.

On the afternoons when he wasn’t on the trains, he would be helping his mom at her job at King’s Department Store. It was there that he met, and later married, his childhood sweetheart, Lorraine. And they would remain together for 59 years.

After graduating from Watertown High School in 1971, Joe engaged in a broad range of jobs, including a landscaper, a handyman, a construction worker, and a bartender (mostly at the Eagles Club in Watertown where he would frequently comp his dad a beer or two). When he married and started having children, he decided it was time to find a “real” job. In 1978, he went to work at Raytheon Company in Waltham, where he worked in Shipping and Receiving for 17 years.

By now, Joe was getting a bit restless, and the phrase “Go West, Young Man” began to resonate. With family in tow, he moved to AZ in 1995. Although this adventure was short-lived, and they moved back to MA, the beauty and lifestyle of AZ never left their hearts.

In 1996, Joe joined the Town of Watertown workforce. His strong work ethic was quickly recognized as he became a custodian manager in the Watertown School System. He especially loved working in the grammar schools, where he was affectionately known as “our Mr. Joe” by the students. After 23 years, Joe decided to retire in 2019.

Although Joe spent all of his life as a city boy, he was a true cowboy at heart. He loved everything about the American West - country western music, classic western movies and TV series, and especially western apparel (his cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and western shirts needed their own closet). So it was no surprise that he would want to live the rest of his days in AZ. His dream of being a cowboy came true when he became a volunteer on a working horse ranch, and he loved every minute of it.

Above all things, Joe cherished his family with boundless love and devotion. His selfless dedication to helping them whenever needed left no doubt about how much they meant to him. Everyone who

knew and loved Joe will greatly miss his zest for life, his sense of humor, and his kind nature.

Left behind to cherish Joe’s memory are his wife, Lorraine (Pellegrini) Maher, his children Cindy Smalls and her husband Phil of Brighton, MA, Lisa Salaverria and her husband William of Chandler, AZ, Joseph Jr. and his partner Jenn of Watertown, MA, and Maryellen Maher of Chandler, AZ; his grandchildren, Mariah, Breiyah, Kyrha, Carlos, Karina, Rafael, Autumn and Hunter; his great-grandchild, Alberto; his sisters, Patricia Forest of San Diego, CA and Nancy Maher of Ashland, MA.