Dr. Thomas F. Cochary age 88 of Middleboro, formerly of W. Bridgewater, died Wednesday March 16, 2016 at Signature Healthcare/Brockton Hospital surrounded by his family after a period of failing health. He was the husband of Patricia (Cormier)(Nash) Cochary and the late Virginia (Fay) Cochary.
Dr. Cochary was born in Medford a son of the Thomas and Alice (Cowan) Cochary. Before moving to Middleboro 13 years ago, he had been a 44 year resident of West Bridgewater.
After graduating from Sanford High School in Maine in 1945, Dr. Cochary enlisted in the US Navy during WWII. Following his military discharge, Dr. Cochary enrolled in Mass College of Optometry and earned his degree in 1953. He opened an optometry practice on Main Street, Brockton and a second location in West Bridgewater in1958 and retired in 1991.
Dr. Cochary was a longtime member and past president of the West Bridgewater Lions Club where he had been active with their fundraising projects. He had also been a member of the Knights of Columbus, VFW and American Legion. Dr. Cochary had been a longtime communicant of St. Ann Church in W. Bridgewater where he was a lector and CCD teacher. He enjoyed summers in Falmouth, playing golf and getting together with friends for card games. He was also an avid Red Sox fan.
Dr. Cochary’s true joy in life was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Dr. Cochary was the father of Laura Majka and her husband Dr. Ron Majka of Mashpee, David Cochary and his wife Angela Ayre of Cambridge, Dr. Elizabeth Cochary Gross and her husband Phillip Gross of Concord, MA; John Cochary of New York and the late Thomas F. Cochary, Jr. He also leaves eight grandchildren Kenneth Majka and his wife Elizabeth, Sara Majka, David Majka and his fiancée Dr. Samari Rodriguez, Alison Majka, Kelly, Anna, Jessica and Thomas Gross and two great grandchildren Jasmine and Henry Majka. He was the brother of the late Arthur Cochary and leaves his extended Nash family Alphonse Nash and the late Gail Lincoln.
Visiting hours will be held in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (rte. 123) Brockton on Monday from 5-8pm. The funeral procession will gather at the funeral home on Tuesday at 9:30am for a funeral Mass in St. Ann Church, West Bridgewater at 10:30am. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, W. Bridgewater. Please consider donations in Dr. Cochary’s name to the Greater New England Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 101A First Ave. #6, Waltham, MA 02451 or the Middleboro St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, PO Box 1381, Middleboro, MA 02346.