...Retired Tewksbury Firefighter; 79
TEWKSBURY - Robert L. “Bob” Dogherty, age 79, a retired Tewksbury Firefighter, well known throughout the department and the community for his wit and practical jokes, died unexpectedly Tuesday morning, December 1, at Lowell General’s Saints Campus. He was the beloved husband of Kathleen “Kathy” (Walsh) Dogherty.
Bob was born in Boston in March 1936, one of three children of the late Leo J. and Irvine C. (Sansome) Dogherty. He was raised in Somerville and graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.
Bob became a Tewksbury Firefighter, on April 21, 1969, and served many years at the South Station, Engine 2, before his retirement on March 24, 1993. In his retirement years, he worked as a school bus driver for the Shawsheen Valley Technical Vocational School, for both school and numerous sporting events.
He held memberships in the Tewksbury-Wilmington Elks Lodge 2070, the Tewksbury V.F.W. Post 8164, and the A.F.L.-C.I.O. Firefighter’s Local 1647.
Bob loved Dunkin Donuts, and was the center of attention at Karaoke.
Besides his wife, he leaves nine children, Robert L. Dogherty Jr and his wife Sally of Manchester, NH, Michael J. Dogherty and his wife Kathy of Tampa, FL, Michele A. Obrien and her husband Donald of Wilmington, Joseph S. Dogherty of Tewksbury, Charmaine R. Murphy of Townsend, Kerri Kelly and her husband Michael of Billerica, Kim Hayes and her husband William of N. Waterboro, Maine, Lee Gastonguay of Chelmsford, Kris Ripa and her husband John of Billerica; nineteen grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a brother, Carl Dogherty of Stoneham; his beloved Papillon “FiFi” and was predeceased by his brother William Dogherty.
Visiting hours Friday, Dec. 4, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. His funeral will begin Saturday, Dec. 5, at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. of MA, 33 Lyman St., Westborough, MA 01581 or visit www.mda.org/office/Massachusetts see: www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com