Obituaries

Joseph I. Garity, Jr, 85, of Quincy and Wellfleet. Died peacefully Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at Sunrise Senior Living in Braintree surrounded by his loving family. Devoted husband of 60 years of the late Gloria M. (Stuart). Beloved father of Paul Garity and his wife, Dana, of Manhattan Beach, CA, Kathleen Pietrasik and her husband, John, of Bedford, MA, Janice Garity and her husband Doug Gold of Bolton, MA, Patricia Koteras and her husband, Joseph, of Los Alamitos, CA, Kevin Garity and his wife, Margie, of Hanover, MA, Brian Garity and his wife, Rachel, of Boston, and Michael Garity and his wife Helen of Newton, MA. Dear brother of the late Ruby A. Mahoney. Adored “Grampa” to 18 grandchildren: Caroline and Kimberly Garity, Michael, Timothy, Julie and Emily Pietrasik, James and Tyler Gold, Christopher, Steven and Matthew Koteras, Kevin Jr. and Kayla Garity, Elizabeth, Thomas and Victoria Garity and Sydney and Marco Garity and is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.

Born in Milton, he was raised in Quincy. Graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Weymouth and Northeastern University, Class of 1952. Veteran of US Navy, World War II. Joe founded Garity Associates Brokerage Insurance Agency in Norwell in 1970 and served as president until his retirement in 2000. Well known and respected member of the local insurance community, served as president of both the Massachusetts Association of Health Underwriters and the Boston Chapter of the General Agents and Managers Association. He earned his Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1963.

A fifty-year member of Hatherly Country Club in Scituate, Joe was an avid golfer who proudly displayed plaques commemorating his three holes-in-one. Joe served as president of the Merrymount Association in the early 60’s, and was the official flag raiser at the July 4th festivities for many years. He and Gloria were Celtics season ticket holders during the Larry Bird era, and also loved watching the Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots play. He loved entertaining friends in Quincy, Wellfleet and Vero Beach, Florida—and he wasn’t shy about singing his favorite songs “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” and “Heart of My Heart”.

One of Joe’s proudest accomplishments was designing and building the family’s summer home in Wellfleet, Cape Cod. Beyond the beautiful structure that stands today, what Joe also built were some special memories for his children, his grandchildren and their many friends who worked side by side with Joe over countless weekends of digging, hammering, roofing, plastering or whatever the task at hand was needed to get the job done. A true labor of love.

He and Gloria loved spending time in Wellfleet–relaxing, entertaining or just working on Joe’s latest project. The highlight of the summer was the annual 4th of July vacation week when the entire clan would gather and celebrate with food, a family softball game and of course, a toast or two. Being together with his kids and grandkids were his happiest times and he would often talk about how proud he was of his 7 children and 18 grandchildren.
For the past five years, Joe has resided at Sunrise Senior Living in Braintree. A special thank you to the wonderful staff for all that you did to care for our Dad and for the support you provided to our family.

Visiting hours will be held from 4-8pm on Friday, Dec 28 at the Dennis Sweeney Funeral Home, 74 Elm St, Quincy Center. Family and friends are invited. On Saturday Dec 29, there will be a gathering at the funeral home at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass at 10am at St. Mary’s Church, 115 Crescent St, West Quincy. Burial with Military Honors in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Joe’s name to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave, 7th floor, NY, NY 1000 http://www.alzfdn.org/ContributetoAFA/makeadonation.html