Joseph T. Laffey, 93, of South Kingstown, passed away peacefully, September 26th , at South County Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Mary Geraghty Laffey who passed away in May of 1999.
Born in South Kingstown, he was the son of the late Thomas and Hannah (Donoghue) Laffey.
Mr. Laffey started his college education at Boston College in 1942, and interrupted his education to attend Naval Aviator Training in the summer of 1943 during WWII, and he then earned his Naval Aviator Wings with flight hours completed in the PT-17 Stearman Trainer, the SNB-2 Beechcraft Bomber, and the F4F- Grumman Wildcat Fighter. He completed his Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at Boston College and graduated in 1948. He then went on to earn a Masters in Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1956.
Mr. Laffey was a social studies teacher at South Kingstown High School for 30 years, where he established the Model Legislature program and the historic "Freedom Trail" school program in Boston. He retired from teaching in 1988. Prior to his teaching at South Kingstown High School, he taught elementary and middle school, coached baseball and school sports in both Waukegan, Illinois and Baroda, Michigan. He also taught elementary/middle school at New London Connecticut, and Narragansett, Rhode Island. He was very active in a variety of Democratic Political organizations in the State of Rhode Island, first, as speech writer and advisor to the late Governor Dennis Roberts from 1956-58, and was also very active in the local South Kingstown Board of Canvassers, serving as Chairman for 5 years. In addition to teaching, he was an active volunteer with the "Meals on Wheels" program, and various volunteer activities with his local church, Christ the King in Kingston.
Mr. Laffey enjoyed gardening to include growing premier amaryllis flowers as annual gifts for family and friends, Irish and New England history, Robert Frost poetry and his work as a history teacher. Mr. Laffey was an avid bicyclist who frequently road on the "William C. O' Neill" local bicycle path from West Kingston though to the Narragansett Community. He was a lifelong fan of his beloved Boston College Eagles sports teams, and a Shaw Society contributor. He was loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by eight of his ten children -- Christine Pfeiffer of South Kingstown; Susan Oertle of Cranston; Michael Laffey of Santa Barbara, CA; Karen DeSimone of Charlestown; Charles Laffey of Stoughton, MA; Tamara Sherer of East Providence; Col Thomas Laffey of Alexandria,VA; and Mary Jo Viederman of Washington, DC; as well as 18 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. His other two children, Timothy Mark Laffey and Maureen Tara Laffey Barratt previously passed away in June and August of 2013, respectively. He is also survived by his sister Mary Laffey McBride of Falls Church, VA, and Sister Margaret-Mary (Rita) Laffey, CP of North Kingstown. He was also the brother to the late Ambrose Laffey, and Theresa Laffey Newton.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Joseph Thomas Laffey will be held at Christ the King Church,180 Old North Road, Kingston on Monday October 3rd (at a time to be announced), which will be preceded by visiting hours held at Avery-Storti Funeral Home on Sunday October 2nd, 4-7 pm. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Rhode Island Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Christ the King Church.
averystrotifuneralhome.com
Born in South Kingstown, he was the son of the late Thomas and Hannah (Donoghue) Laffey.
Mr. Laffey started his college education at Boston College in 1942, and interrupted his education to attend Naval Aviator Training in the summer of 1943 during WWII, and he then earned his Naval Aviator Wings with flight hours completed in the PT-17 Stearman Trainer, the SNB-2 Beechcraft Bomber, and the F4F- Grumman Wildcat Fighter. He completed his Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at Boston College and graduated in 1948. He then went on to earn a Masters in Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1956.
Mr. Laffey was a social studies teacher at South Kingstown High School for 30 years, where he established the Model Legislature program and the historic "Freedom Trail" school program in Boston. He retired from teaching in 1988. Prior to his teaching at South Kingstown High School, he taught elementary and middle school, coached baseball and school sports in both Waukegan, Illinois and Baroda, Michigan. He also taught elementary/middle school at New London Connecticut, and Narragansett, Rhode Island. He was very active in a variety of Democratic Political organizations in the State of Rhode Island, first, as speech writer and advisor to the late Governor Dennis Roberts from 1956-58, and was also very active in the local South Kingstown Board of Canvassers, serving as Chairman for 5 years. In addition to teaching, he was an active volunteer with the "Meals on Wheels" program, and various volunteer activities with his local church, Christ the King in Kingston.
Mr. Laffey enjoyed gardening to include growing premier amaryllis flowers as annual gifts for family and friends, Irish and New England history, Robert Frost poetry and his work as a history teacher. Mr. Laffey was an avid bicyclist who frequently road on the "William C. O' Neill" local bicycle path from West Kingston though to the Narragansett Community. He was a lifelong fan of his beloved Boston College Eagles sports teams, and a Shaw Society contributor. He was loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by eight of his ten children -- Christine Pfeiffer of South Kingstown; Susan Oertle of Cranston; Michael Laffey of Santa Barbara, CA; Karen DeSimone of Charlestown; Charles Laffey of Stoughton, MA; Tamara Sherer of East Providence; Col Thomas Laffey of Alexandria,VA; and Mary Jo Viederman of Washington, DC; as well as 18 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. His other two children, Timothy Mark Laffey and Maureen Tara Laffey Barratt previously passed away in June and August of 2013, respectively. He is also survived by his sister Mary Laffey McBride of Falls Church, VA, and Sister Margaret-Mary (Rita) Laffey, CP of North Kingstown. He was also the brother to the late Ambrose Laffey, and Theresa Laffey Newton.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Joseph Thomas Laffey will be held at Christ the King Church,180 Old North Road, Kingston on Monday October 3rd (at a time to be announced), which will be preceded by visiting hours held at Avery-Storti Funeral Home on Sunday October 2nd, 4-7 pm. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Rhode Island Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Christ the King Church.
averystrotifuneralhome.com
Joseph T. Laffey, 93, of South Kingstown, passed away peacefully, September 26th , at South County Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Mary Geraghty Laffey who passed away in May of 1999.
Born in South Kingstown, he was the son of the late Thomas and Hannah (Donoghue) Laffey.
Mr. Laffey started his college education at Boston College in 1942, and interrupted his education to attend Naval Aviator Training in the summer of 1943 during WWII, and he then earned his Naval Aviator Wings with flight hours completed in the PT-17 Stearman Trainer, the SNB-2 Beechcraft Bomber, and the F4F- Grumman Wildcat Fighter. He completed his Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at Boston College and graduated in 1948. He then went on to earn a Masters in Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1956.
Mr. Laffey was a social studies teacher at South Kingstown High School for 30 years, where he established the Model Legislature program and the historic "Freedom Trail" school program in Boston. He retired from teaching in 1988. Prior to his teaching at South Kingstown High School, he taught elementary and middle school, coached baseball and school sports in both Waukegan, Illinois and Baroda, Michigan. He also taught elementary/middle school at New London Connecticut, and Narragansett, Rhode Island. He was very active in a variety of Democratic Political organizations in the State of Rhode Island, first, as speech writer and advisor to the late Governor Dennis Roberts from 1956-58, and was also very active in the local South Kingstown Board of Canvassers, serving as Chairman for 5 years. In addition to teaching, he was an active volunteer with the "Meals on Wheels" program, and various volunteer activities with his local church, Christ the King in Kingston.
Mr. Laffey enjoyed gardening to include growing premier amaryllis flowers as annual gifts for family and friends, Irish and New England history, Robert Frost poetry and his work as a history teacher. Mr. Laffey was an avid bicyclist who frequently road on the "William C. O' Neill" local bicycle path from West Kingston though to the Narragansett Community. He was a lifelong fan of his beloved Boston College Eagles sports teams, and a Shaw Society contributor. He was loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by eight of his ten children -- Christine Pfeiffer of South Kingstown; Susan Oertle of Cranston; Michael Laffey of Santa Barbara, CA; Karen DeSimone of Charlestown; Charles Laffey of Stoughton, MA; Tamara Sherer of East Providence; Col Thomas Laffey of Alexandria,VA; and Mary Jo Viederman of Washington, DC; as well as 18 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. His other two children, Timothy Mark Laffey and Maureen Tara Laffey Barratt previously passed away in June and August of 2013, respectively. He is also survived by his sister Mary Laffey McBride of Falls Church, VA, and Sister Margaret-Mary (Rita) Laffey, CP of North Kingstown. He was also the brother to the late Ambrose Laffey, and Theresa Laffey Newton.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Joseph Thomas Laffey will be held at Christ the King Church,180 Old North Road, Kingston on Monday October 3rd (at a time to be announced), which will be preceded by visiting hours held at Avery-Storti Funeral Home on Sunday October 2nd, 4-7 pm. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Rhode Island Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Christ the King Church.
averystrotifuneralhome.com
Born in South Kingstown, he was the son of the late Thomas and Hannah (Donoghue) Laffey.
Mr. Laffey started his college education at Boston College in 1942, and interrupted his education to attend Naval Aviator Training in the summer of 1943 during WWII, and he then earned his Naval Aviator Wings with flight hours completed in the PT-17 Stearman Trainer, the SNB-2 Beechcraft Bomber, and the F4F- Grumman Wildcat Fighter. He completed his Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at Boston College and graduated in 1948. He then went on to earn a Masters in Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1956.
Mr. Laffey was a social studies teacher at South Kingstown High School for 30 years, where he established the Model Legislature program and the historic "Freedom Trail" school program in Boston. He retired from teaching in 1988. Prior to his teaching at South Kingstown High School, he taught elementary and middle school, coached baseball and school sports in both Waukegan, Illinois and Baroda, Michigan. He also taught elementary/middle school at New London Connecticut, and Narragansett, Rhode Island. He was very active in a variety of Democratic Political organizations in the State of Rhode Island, first, as speech writer and advisor to the late Governor Dennis Roberts from 1956-58, and was also very active in the local South Kingstown Board of Canvassers, serving as Chairman for 5 years. In addition to teaching, he was an active volunteer with the "Meals on Wheels" program, and various volunteer activities with his local church, Christ the King in Kingston.
Mr. Laffey enjoyed gardening to include growing premier amaryllis flowers as annual gifts for family and friends, Irish and New England history, Robert Frost poetry and his work as a history teacher. Mr. Laffey was an avid bicyclist who frequently road on the "William C. O' Neill" local bicycle path from West Kingston though to the Narragansett Community. He was a lifelong fan of his beloved Boston College Eagles sports teams, and a Shaw Society contributor. He was loved by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by eight of his ten children -- Christine Pfeiffer of South Kingstown; Susan Oertle of Cranston; Michael Laffey of Santa Barbara, CA; Karen DeSimone of Charlestown; Charles Laffey of Stoughton, MA; Tamara Sherer of East Providence; Col Thomas Laffey of Alexandria,VA; and Mary Jo Viederman of Washington, DC; as well as 18 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. His other two children, Timothy Mark Laffey and Maureen Tara Laffey Barratt previously passed away in June and August of 2013, respectively. He is also survived by his sister Mary Laffey McBride of Falls Church, VA, and Sister Margaret-Mary (Rita) Laffey, CP of North Kingstown. He was also the brother to the late Ambrose Laffey, and Theresa Laffey Newton.
A Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate and give thanks for the life of Joseph Thomas Laffey will be held at Christ the King Church,180 Old North Road, Kingston on Monday October 3rd (at a time to be announced), which will be preceded by visiting hours held at Avery-Storti Funeral Home on Sunday October 2nd, 4-7 pm. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Rhode Island Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Christ the King Church.
averystrotifuneralhome.com
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