SHARON — A memorial service for Joseph R. McIntyre, 72, who died May 10, 2012 at his home with his family in Sharon, were held May 15 at the Sharon Congregational Church.
Joe was born Jan. 22, 1940 in Boston, Mass., a son of Joseph P. and Ida Marie (Bouchard) McIntyre.
He grew up in Waltham, Mass., where he attended St. Mary’s School before graduating form Waltham High School.
After graduation, Joe enlisted in the US Air Force, serving his country from 1959 until 1963. Joe returned home and enrolled in Newton Junior College, earning a degree in nursing. He began his nursing career working with individuals with mental health issues at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Waltham, Mass., a psychiatric state facility. It was there that he met his future wife, Linda Coffin. It was also when the love affair between the Coffin Family and “Mac” began.
Linda and Joe married on June 16, 1979 at St. Luke’s Church in Belmont, Mass. With his focus still on nursing but looking for a geographic change, Joe and Linda moved to Canaan, N.H. in 1980 where Joe was hired as the school nurse at Cardigan for over a decade.
Joe and Linda’s three children were born during this time and they decided to relocate to a home of their own. In the early 1990s they moved to Sharon, and he continued his nursing career at the Gifford Medical Center where he worked for over 16 years. During this time he balanced his career and his role as a parent, spending time at football and lacrosse fields, gymnasiums and ice rinks cheering on his boys. It was after the boys graduated from school that Joe’s career went full circle and he returned to a nursing position with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a job he commuted to weekly. Joe’s success in the nursing profession was attributed to his compassion for others and his sense of humor, which helped him gain his patient’s trust and confidence.
Joe was drawn to the Upper Valley by his love of the outdoors, an avid skier, Joe traveled to Jackson Hole and other venues out west as well as all of the New England ski resorts. Joe began an annual fishing excursion to Pittsburgh, N.H. back in the 1980s and loved when his families, especially his sons, were old enough to enjoy it with him. Joe and Linda camped frequently each summer, both locally with friends and neighbors and down the east coast with family. Joe was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching all of his favorite New England teams compete, though his greatest joy came in watching his three sons’ sporting events.
He is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Linda of Sharon; three sons, Joseph J. McIntyre of Sharon, Daniel R. McIntyre of Hartford and Matthew L. McIntyre of Burlington; a sister, Jeanne McIntyre of Berlin; several nieces and nephews; as well as numerous in-laws to whom he was a son and brother.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Rex Dyer, Sharon, 05065.
This obituary first appeared in the May 17th, 2012 print edition of the Vermont Standard.
To leave condolences, thoughts or stories, please comment below.
To see more obituaries click here.
