MacPhee, Joseph V. of Wellesley died at age 84 on Saturday, March 13, 2021, preceded in death by his parents Joseph D. and Jeanette (MacDougall) MacPhee of Boston, and two brothers John and William MacPhee.
Joe grew up in Jamaica Plain and attended St. Aidan’s High School in Brookline. He earned BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and worked at a variety of tech start-ups in the Boston area before joining the research staff at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory. He enjoyed a long fulfilling career working on computer and satellite design, and after retirement, continued to participate in MIT activities through the Quarter Century Club and Retirees Association.
Outside of work, Joe led an active social life. After graduate school, he married his wife of 56 years, Carol (Dooley), and raised two children in Wellesley. An avid sailor, he was a member of the Bristol Yacht Club and the US Power Squadron, where he held leadership positions and taught boating safety and celestial navigation. His love of cars led to his involvement with the Jaguar Association of New England, the National Woodie Club, and most recently, the ROMEO car club of Natick. He was a patron of the New Hampshire Highland Games, the Celtic Colors music festival, and the Harvard Gilbert and Sullivan Society. His family and friends will dearly miss his kindness, generosity, and tireless help with fixing things..
Joe is survived by his wife Carol, his daughter Marybeth of Barrington, RI, and his son Joseph and daughter-in-law Elizabeth of Santa Barbara, CA as well as his sister-in-law Barbara Conroy, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Private funeral services will be held at the George F Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley. Donations in his honor may be made to a charity of your choice.