EUGENE J. "JOE" PRESTON

1934 - 2025

PRESTON, Eugene J. "Joe" Born in Ireland, formerly of Arlington and South Yarmouth, Joe passed away on Thursday, November 6, 2025, surrounded by the love of his five children. He was 90. Joe was a devoted father and grandfather, and the beloved husband of the late Mary Preston (McGrath). He is survived by his children, Jennifer Preston (Christopher Conway), Ann Sumner (Peter), Joseph Preston (Caren Kenney), Deirdre Richardson (Jim) and Mark Preston (Meredith); and by 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren: Ryan, Kelly, Grace, Matthew, Sean, Devin, Emily, Timothy, Owen, Catherine, Conner, Madelyn and Gael. Born in County Sligo, the son of the late Eugene and Julia (Fitzpatrick), he excelled at the bagpipes and on the soccer field. At 16, he joined the Irish Army and later moved to London, where he met Mary, his future wife from Newry, County Down. They married in 1957 and immigrated to the US the following year with their infant daughter, $100 and a shared determination to build a better life. Joe worked long hours and studied for engineering licenses that led to his career as a First Class Engineer at Boston Edison. He and Mary bought a two-family home in Arlington, where they lived for 40 years. They instilled their values in there family: hard work, compassion and the courage to "do the right thing." A kind and gentle father, Joe was a man of quiet strength and quick wit, a father who led with encouragement. When Joe retired, he and Mary moved to Cape Cod. Following in the footsteps of his father, Gene, an accomplished Irish flute player, Joe immersed himself in traditional Irish music, playing the tin whistle and accordion with local musicians at Cape Cod pubs, schools and parades. He played his tin whistle until just two weeks before his passing. Relatives and friends are invited to Visiting Hours at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St., ARLINGTON, on Monday, November 10, from 8:30–9:30 a.m. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10 a.m., at Saint Agnes Church, Arlington, with Burial at Saint Paul's Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Breakthrough Type 1 Diabetes (Formerly JDRF).

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