Joseph R. Desfosses

Joseph R. Desfosses, 70, of Manchester, died June 16, 2015 at his home after a period of declining health.

He was born in Cambridge, MA on January 29, 1945 to Rene and Stella (Dachowski) Desfosses. He attended grade schools in Boston, MA and Auburn Village School. He graduated from Bishop Bradley High School, Manchester in 1962 and Keene State College in 1968.

Mr. Desfosses was a biology teacher for 35 years. He taught briefly at Trinity High School and 33 years at Central High School, where he retired in 2001 as head of the Science Department.

He served with the New Hampshire Army National Guard 197th Field Artillery Brigade for 29 years and was honorably discharged in 1998 at the rank of Sergeant Major.

Mr. Desfosses was a past president and member of the board of directors of VOPAR, an affiliate of the Manchester School of Technology. He also worked as a union carpenter and helped in the construction of the Mt. Washington Observatory. He enjoyed deer hunting.

The family includes his wife of 48 years, Pauline A. (Morency) Desfosses of Manchester; two sons, David Desfosses and his wife, Lori, of North Hampton and Brian Desfosses and his wife, Maryam, of Bedford; two grandchildren, Alina and Nicolas Desfosses of Bedford; three brothers, Robert Desfosses and his wife, Annette, of Auburn, Roland Desfosses and his deceased wife, Zelma, of San Miguel, CA and Michael Desfosses and his wife, Deborah, of Bradford; one aunt, one uncle and cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, June 22, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 3 Litchfield Way, Litchfield. Committal prayers followed at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen.