Haskell, Patrick J. “PJ” age 59, of Scituate, passed away suddenly in a helicopter crash alongside his wife, Margaret Rimmler, on March 26, 2026 while on vacation in Hawaii.
PJ was a beloved husband, father, brother and friend who loved spending time with his family and friends, being by the ocean, and cultivating his garden giving special care to his blueberry bushes.
Born on April 7, 1966, to George and Eleanor Haskell, PJ was the eldest of four children and raised in Needham. He attended the Roxbury Latin School in West Roxbury for secondary school and then went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree at Boston College. He dedicated his career to working with his father at the Haskell Insurance Agency in Needham. His kindness and selflessness left a lasting impact on his clients and community. Having just retired at the end of 2025, he was looking forward to travelling and seeing the world with Margaret. Their trip to Hawaii was the first of many planned when their lives were cut tragically short.
We will miss PJ’s passion for meteorology and his detailed weather forecasts (often more accurate than the local news); his love for the sport of soccer as a player, a coach and a Liverpool FC supporter; and the wonderful annual “Cousins” parties PJ and Margaret hosted for all of our extended family each summer.
PJ is survived by his children Brendan, Colin and Sarabeth; his siblings Tara Kilgarriff and her husband Tom of Westwood, MA., George “Chris” and his companion Karen Adams of Ramsey, NJ, and Susan Greene and her husband Felimy of Hampshire, England; his eight nieces and nephews - Seamus, Tommy and Molly Kilgarriff, Maggie, George and Ryan Haskell, and Lulu and Jack Greene; his in-laws John and Doris Rimmler, and Margaret’s siblings John Rimmler (Jackie), and Karen Libby (Mark), all of North Carolina; plus a wide circle of friends and extended family who will miss him dearly.
Visitation will be at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, Needham, on Sunday, April 26, from 2 - 6 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Church, Needham, on Monday, April 27, at 11 a.m.
As Nantucket was a special place where PJ and Margaret met, got engaged and hoped to have a retirement spot, in lieu of flowers donations in memory of PJ and Margaret may be made to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Alternatively donations can be made in PJ’s memory to the Roxbury Latin School.