Joseph B. McGrath

McGRATH, Joseph B. Of Somerville, MA, formerly of Washington, D.C., died peacefully in the arms of his daughter on July 4, 2011. He was 88 years old. Son of the late Dr. Joseph M. and Florence (Berard) McGrath of Malden, MA. Beloved husband of the late Anne (O'Neil) McGrath (d. 2001). Devoted father of seven children: Anne M. Thomas of Boston, MA; Joseph C. McGrath of Kansas City, MO, Kathleen M. Dickerson of Moscow, ID; the late James E. McGrath of Washington, D.C. (d. 2000); Marguerite M. Stanley of Clyde Hill, WA; Thomas B. McGrath of Los Angeles, CA; and Benjamin M. McGrath of New York City, NY. Loving brother of Mary Frances Ballard of San Jose, CA. Doting grandfather to fifteen grandchildren: Lorien, Jessie, Mark, Ben, Abbey, Matt, Katie, Will, J.T., William, Sarah, Annie, Mollie, Emma, and Sally. Graduate of Harvard College ('44), veteran of World War II as a 1st Lieutenant (retired) in the U.S. Army 17th Airborne Division, and graduate of Harvard Law School ('48). Lobbyist for the National Association of Home Builders and the National Forest Products Association and General Counsel to the Bicentennial Commission for the U.S. Constitution. Ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. ('90), graduate of the Catholic University of America with a Licentiate in Canon Law, and Judge on the Tribunal, the Washington D.C. Archdiocesan Court of First Instance, during the late 1990's. Past president of the Harvard Club of Washington, D.C., past president of the Thomas More Society of Washington, D.C., and a Knight of Malta. A local Service of Remembrance will take place at the Harvard Faculty Club, 20 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA (617-495-5758) on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 3630 Quesada Street, Washington, D.C., on September 13, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. burial with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Visiting hours at Joseph Gawler's Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. (202-966-6400) to be held on September 12, 2011 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Joseph B. McGrath Class of 1944 Cornerstone Scholarship Fund, 124 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, or a charity of the donor's choice.