John Edward Dougherty III, of Medway Mass and Yarmouth Maine died Saturday, November 5, surrounded by his family, after a nearly 3-year long battle with cancer. He had undergone a major operation in April, 2014, and showed hopeful signs in his recovery. He had returned to work. But earlier this year, the disease took hold again.
The son of John E and Margaret Houlihan Dougherty of Sarasota, Florida and Yarmouth, ME, John was born August 11, 1971 at Central Maine Medical Center, and moved to Yarmouth 2-weeks later. He always contended that was fast enough to qualify as a Townie. John attended Yarmouth schools, and graduated Cheverus High School in 1991. He went on to Marist College in New York, graduating with his BA in Journalism in 1995. At the age of 4 John began skating with Casco Bay Youth Hockey, and continued with the sport through high school, college and beyond with industrial leagues. Following graduation from Marist, John spent a year in Europe, before returning and beginning work at Tufts Health Plan in Boston. A short time later, he joined EBS in Newton as a Senior Consultant, an association that continued until his passing.
In 2001, during a vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, John met Jennifer Thompson of Dedham, Mass. Their romance blossomed and they married at St Pius Church in Portland, August 23, 2003. Together, their family began to grow. James was born in 2007, Eliza in 2008, and in April 2016, Charlotte arrived, a most blessed 'surprise'. John was devoted to his family, and they to him.
And he loved Maine and Casco Bay. He returned as often as possible, especially during the Summer months. His routine was to rise early, coffee at Dunkin', and meditation on the dock at Cousins and Littlejohn Islands. His boat trips were most complete with a Striper of proper size, but just to be on the water, casting in his favorite spots, fighting black flies and horse flies, was nirvana.
In 2013, John became associated with a supportive group of Alcoholics Anonymous members in the Medway area, who helped him attain an impressive inner strength. He was forever grateful to them.
John is survived by his wife Jennifer, son James, and daughters Eliza and Charlotte, all of Medway. He is also survived by his parents, Margaret and John, his sister Kathleen of Freeport, Maine, and by members of the Dougherty-Houlihan and Thompson clans of Aunts and Uncles, and more than 7 dozen cousins.
John's family would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Mass General Hospital for their loving care of John. And special thanks to the Nurses of VNA Hospice Care for providing comfort to John at a most difficult time.
Visiting hours for John will be held at the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com), 131 Main St in Franklin, Massachusetts on Wednesday, November 9 from 4pm until 8pm. A funeral Mass for John will Celebrated at 2pm on Thursday, November 10, at St Joseph's Church 151 Village Street in Medway. Burial will follow immediately at St Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John Dougherty Children's Education Fund, c/o Middlesex Savings Bank, 81 Main Street, Medway,MA 02053.