Joseph Graham Horrigan, 71, of Millis and formerly of Holliston, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Born in Natick, he was the son of the late Elizabeth (White) and Joseph E. Horrigan. He was the beloved husband of Patricia (Oneto) Horrigan of Millis.
Joe lived a life of service and compassion. He was an avid volunteer who dedicated his time to the Holliston Auxiliary Police, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Massachusetts Militia in support of the State Police, and he served as an EMT with the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT2) out of UMass Medical. He also developed a strong faith and shared it as a Eucharistic Minister and mentor at St. John’s Seminary. As a devoted father, he was deeply involved in his children’s activities and often served as a coach for their hockey teams. He had a lifelong love of animals, especially his three beloved dogs.
He graduated from Holliston High in 1972. While attending MassBay Community College, Joe directed his future bride in a production of Guys and Dolls. A standout in mathematics, he taught himself over 30 different computer languages and became an expert in cybersecurity and large-scale computer systems. Joe attained the certification of Hewlett-Packard Master. He held many roles in information technology, including positions at Harvard Pilgrim, and also served as a private consultant for several Silicon Valley companies. Later in his career, he led IT operations at Stanford University Hospital in California, ultimately returning to Harvard Pilgrim, where he finished his career.
Joe is survived by his devoted wife, Patti; his sons, Patrick and his wife, Jodi Horrigan, of Framingham, and Michael and his wife, Julie Horrigan, of Sturbridge; and his daughter, Dawn, of Millis. Joe was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren—Casey, Aedan, Brianna, Lindsay, Ryan, and Patrick—who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his older brother, Robert, and his wife, Dottie, of Ashland; his younger sister, Kathleen Morin, and her husband, Ernie, of Farmington, New Hampshire; and his niece, Kelly, of Daytona, Florida. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Bettsy Horrigan; his younger brother, James, of Holliston; and his nephew, Patrick Donnelly.
Joe will be remembered for his faith, kindness, generosity, and unwavering curiosity. His love for family, community, and learning leaves a lasting legacy in all who knew him.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 27th from 12:00-2:30 p.m. at Chesmore Funeral Home of Holliston, 854 Washington St. www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com A funeral Mass will be held at 3:00 p.m. following the visitation at Saint Joseph’s Church in Medway. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Make a Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island Chapter wish.org/massri or the Special Olympics specialolympics.org.
