Bernard D. Doherty, 92, of Harwich, formerly of Holliston, passed away on Monday, October 16, 2023, after a brief illness. Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Doris R. (Taylor) Doherty and Gerald M. Doherty. He was the beloved husband of 63 years to the late Ann Marie (Kenney) Doherty.
A graduate of Hopkinton High School and Suffolk University, Bernard served in the Navy during the Korean War, establishing residence in Holliston in the early sixties. He would serve on the High School Building Committee and later, as Chairman of the Holliston Finance Committee, President of Holliston Youth Baseball, Chairman of the High School Band Uniform Committee, and a member of the Holliston Lions Club. Moving to Harwich in 1992, he was a member of the Harwich Men’s Club and an enthusiastic member of the Cranberry Valley Golf Course.
Mr. Doherty enjoyed his many trips to Ireland, cooking for his family, and time spent in his garden, cultivating the many ingredients that would come to embody his near fanatical desire to create a superb spaghetti sauce. His home had an open door for friends and family who would find a cool drink and warm meal as their reward for the visit.
Bernard is survived by his four children and their families; Suzanne Shannahan and her husband, John, of Holliston, Karen Shaw and her husband, Jonathan, of West Chester, PA, Bernard D. Doherty Jr. and his wife, Carolyn, of Framingham, and Michelle Goncalves and her husband, Jaime, of Hopkinton. He leaves behind 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and his sisters-in-law, Joan Doherty of Norwood and Carol Kenney of Hampton, NH. He also leaves his cousin, Theodore Doherty, of Lynnfield, MA. He is predeceased by his siblings, John A. Doherty, Gerald M. Doherty Jr., Paul T. Doherty, and Eugene A. Doherty.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 20th from 5:00-8:00 at Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, 854 Washington St. www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 21st at 11:30 a.m. at Saint Matthew Parish in Southborough. Burial will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284 dana-farber.org