Obituary of Anthony John Joseph

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Anthony John Joseph, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, on Wednesday afternoon, November 14, 2018 from the effects of pancreatic cancer at the age of 69 years old. The son of Charles James Joseph and Eileen Gallivan, Anthony was born and grew up in Hastings, England, a waterfront community on England’s southeast coast. In 1976, after meeting his wife, Jodi Templer, in France he immigrated to the United States.  He and Jodi lived in Swampscott and Saugus before settling in Tewksbury in 1983. He was a resident of the United States for 42 years, and was proud to become a citizen in 2001. After an apprenticeship in Chemistry in England, he attended the University of Lowell to earn his Bachelors Degree of Science. He went on to work as a Senior Scientist at PerkinElmer working in Research & Design and Product Development. His work was used for research in labs all over the world.

Anthony had a passion for singing, performing at churches, civic events, nursing homes, and annual holiday concerts. He sang tenor with two barbershop choruses, the Gentlemen Songsters of Lowell and the Granite Statesmen of Nashua, New Hampshire.  He also sang in Tewksbury’s Interfaith Choir for 27 years and with the Andover Choral Society.  His favorite annual performance was the Community Handel’s Messiah given each Christmas at Cochran Chapel at Phillips Academy in Andover.

Anthony was a voracious reader, particularly of mysteries, and a regular patron at the Tewksbury and Wilmington libraries. A lifelong painter, he participated in classes and exhibits at local art centers. He enjoyed traveling, particularly exploring more of his native England and visiting friends in France. He always took an active part in his sons’ activities, coaching soccer, hiking and camping, and volunteering with their Cub Scout and Boy Scout troops. One of the great joys of being a grandfather was that he was able to share many of the same activities with his grandsons. He maintained strong ties to his family and friends in the United Kingdom, and passed on these connections to his children and grandchildren.

Anthony was the beloved husband of 41 years of Judith “Jodi” Templer. He was the loving father of Peter & his wife Katy of Brooklyn, NY and Andrew & his wife Carla of Woburn. He was the brother of Linda Oxtoby of Cardiff, Wales, Debra Butler & her husband, Phil, of St Leonard-on-Sea, England, and the late Lorraine Millar. He was the half-brother of David, Louise, and Daniel Joseph all of England, and was also close to his many cousins there. He was the proud grandfather of Vincenzo and Leo Joseph of Woburn. Anthony is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other family.

 A memorial service will be held at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 4 Forest St., Wilmington, MA on Monday, Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Anthony’s name may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, www.pancan.org. For directions, obituary and online guestbook see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net or www.stelizabethswilmington.org.  Arrangements by the Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington.