Name: Visitation for WILLIAM DOHERTY
Start: 2019-11-06T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-11-07T01:00:00.000Z
Location: Cartwright-Venuti Funeral Home - Braintree

DOHERTY, William Seize The Day! If you're reading this, I am dead and you're not. William Doherty of Weymouth died November 1, 2019, with family beside him including his wife of 52 years, Dorothy Kamison Doherty. With apologies to Dylan Thomas, I have raged, raged against the dying of the light, but now it is time to go gentle into that good night. My sister Mary Doherty predeceased me, and I am survived by my sister Kathleen Doherty of the Netherlands, niece Liann, and Mary's children, Kristin Moffat and husband David of Lunenberg, and nephew Brian Doherty and wife Kim of Norton. I have too many other nieces and nephews to list individually from the Mitchells and Sotos of Stoughton to the Hamelburgs of Marblehead and California. I am also survived by daughter Elizabeth Doherty and husband Rick Fuller and three grandchildren whom I will miss the most, Ronan, Declan, and Cormac. Dorothy and I graduated Braintree High School in 1960 and have been truly together for the last 60 years. We started teaching at Weymouth South High School and taught together for the last 20 years of its existence. When North and South combined, we taught another 10 years at Weymouth High School and retired in 2001. In the early 70s I was lucky enough to write a course called Introduction to General Semantics and had more than 3000 students take it. When the schools combined, both Dot and I taught it for the next 10 years at Weymouth High. I am pleased to say the course continues with John Pappas at Weymouth High and Jessica Vallese Johnston at Norwell High School. In the meantime, a parallel life evolved: we bought a small boat and joined the Quincy Yacht Club where I served as secretary of the house committee for five years and recently passed 50 years' membership. The blizzard of 78 forced us from the yacht club to Hewitt's Cove Marina. Now we could live on the boat from May till November. I had begun scuba diving for lobsters 3 days a week in 1965 with dive partner Richard K Murphy of Squantum. We then got commercial licenses and another facet of life opened up. My 10 traps grew to 800; I became involved with the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association where I have been a delegate, a member of the board of directors, and a member of the insurance board owned by MLA. In 2001, life changed again. We retired from teaching and our last high school sternman, Joe Kennedy, went off to college. He brought Mike Kohler of Plymouth, who worked with me for 18 years, and Mike brought in Taylor Smith of Weymouth, who has been with me for the last 10 years. Taylor is the new Captain of the ISHMAEL. In addition, we had until then never traveled anywhere. What for? We lived on a boat. Now I could lobster from May till December and we could travel somewhere warm in winter. And we have. We have gone to Costa Rica where we caught our first giant sailfish, done two or three transatlantic/pacific crossings, and gone up and down the east coast of South America. We've been on safari in South Africa with fishing in Capetown and to Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti. In Asia, we went from Hong Kong to Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. Our most recent trip was a reverse trip through the Panama Canal from San Diego to Miami with fishing stops in Cabo St. Lucas and Guatamala with our frequent companions Linda Breen of Hull and Dave Casoni of Marshfield. Now this is not meant to be some form of humble bragging, but an attempt to get you to open your eyes. The experience is better than the stories and far more memorable when you are where I am. If you've gotten this far, it's time for what every sternman I've ever had has heard—usually on the foulest of weather days—stop! look around, today is a beautiful day and it is never going to come again, tomorrow you're one day closer to joining me, so seize the day and enjoy it to the fullest. Visiting Hours: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Visiting Hours on Wednesday, November 6th, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM in the Cartwright-Venuti Funeral Home, 845 Washington St., BRAINTREE. Burial will be private. For directions or to leave a sympathy message, please visit www.cartwrightfuneral.com A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, November 15th, at 4:00 PM in the Sons of Italy, 54 Whitman Street, Weymouth. Cartwright-Venuti Funeral Home, 845 Washington St., Braintree, MA 02184 781-843-1878

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Published by Boston Globe from Nov. 4 to Nov. 5, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for WILLIAM DOHERTY

28 Entries

Kim Kline

October 29, 2024

You were one the best teachers ever. Thinking of you today.

Kim (Kline) Walsh

June 7, 2024

You were the most amazing teacher. Taking Semantics changed me for the better. You made me a better student and person. Remember the book I sent you Tuesdays with Morrie? Because you were that kind of person. Your life sounded amazing and I am so glad you got to travel the world. Thank you for all you brought to the world.

Cormac

November 8, 2023

God, he was a great grandpa. We called him Bucka. He was the greatest grandpa and father I had ever met. My his soul rest in peace.

Lorraine Hajjar (Conant)

October 29, 2023

You were an amazing teacher! You and your wife brought so much join to so many students at Weymouth High! I loved hearing about all of your adventures after retiring! You truly lived your life!!

Colleen Maloney

April 24, 2022

Dear Mrs. Doherty (& Elizabeth),

Well, I'm three years late in learning of the passing of your husband and father. Please forgive the tardiness. My heart is full to bursting with fond remembrance, care and love of Mr. Doherty.
Yesterday, Annette Martel, Denise Kearns, Kathy Gill, and our respective spouses, gathered at our home for the weekend. (We attempt to gather annually to celebrate our long, deep and caring friendship that developed almost fifty years ago at Weymouth South High. Class of 1974) Over dinner last night, we were reminiscing about both Mr & Mrs Doherty. We spoke specifically about Mr. Doherty being a teacher who ushered us into learning to think for ourselves. He impacted all of our lives. Mrs. D,....you and Mr. D. were our class advisors that year. You tolerated countless visits from us as teenage girls and welcomed us into your hearts and home. Both of you, influenced each of us, in deep and positive ways. After people left our home this afternoon, I Googled your names and sadly discovered that Mr. D. had passed. Please know that he left this world a better place, as witnessed in the simple act of five former students, fifty years later, talking about teachers who have influenced our lives. My husband, Peter Carleen, and I, offer you our deepest sympathies and gratitude for Mr. Doherty and your generosity in sharing him with so many fortunate former students. May he rest in peace . May you each find comfort in your memories and love. With warmth and gratitude, Colleen Maloney

Mike Antonowicz

November 13, 2019

There are some names from your past that add a smile and a positive spark to your day- thank you Bill Doherty.

November 11, 2019

Bill was one of my best high school friends, and I am so sad to hear of his passing. I moved from Braintree way back in 1962 when I joined the Air Force, and have lost contact with most of my classmates. It is so sad to see us slowly leaving this earth, but hopefully we shall be reunited in the next life.

November 9, 2019

Semantics was my favorite class. I am very sorry to see this obituary. I have fond memories of a great teacher and a terrific human being. Mr. Doherty had such a positive impact on my life and I am sure the lives of many more. Rest in peace and your legacy lives on through more people than you will ever know. My sincere sympathy to his family and friends

Lisa Hayden-Melanson
Class of 1979

Rin Geraghty D'Attilio

November 9, 2019

I was so saddened to hear of this great man's passing. I was blessed to enjoy his Semantic Class in High School and LOVED how he challenged my way of thinking. I truly enjoyed knowing him and his wife, such a great couple, and considered them to the very best of teachers. Sending my deepest condolences to the rest of his family.
Mr Doherty, continue to "seize the day" in your next adventure.

Paula Giannini

November 8, 2019

Wow Mr Doherty! I would've expected nothing less from a man like yourself than to pen your own obituary ❣ I join many others in declaring you THE best teacher at Weymouth South HS. I for one plan on taking your sage advice on living life to the fullest-it certainly sounds like you and Mrs Doherty enjoyed a wonderful magical life and what more can any of us ask for?! Thank you for your words of wisdom and may you enjoy wherever you are now as much as we enjoyed you being here with all of us

Barb Stanley Townsend

November 8, 2019

Funny, I was just thinking about Mr. Doherty recently. I'm not sure what even evoked the memory that day, however I remember that it made me smile.

Mr. D. was my absolute favorite teacher at Weymouth South High School, in my favorite subject. Among other classes, I was in his Semantics discussion where I was introduced to S.I. Hayakawa's 'Language in Thought and Action'. Mr. D. left a lifelong signature/impression on me and my writing and I will always remember him and his classes with great fondness.

Godspeed, Mr. D. ...and thank you.

Barb Stanley Townsend
Weymouth South Class of '76

Lorraine Conant (Hajjar)

November 7, 2019

I had the honor of knowing Mr. Doherty and his wife being a student from Weymouth. I took semantics and absolutely loved that class. As I grew older, I became a teacher in Weymouth for 12 years before I moved to Virginia. I am still currently teaching. I often reflect upon the teachers of my past to emulate their practices. Mr. Doherty was one of them! I loved that he wrote his own obituary. His message is powerful and I definitely learned a lot about him that I didn't know. He lived his life and experienced incredible places. Thank you for the memories and Rest In Peace!

Andrea Wells

November 6, 2019

I only wish that I had met him.

Kathleen Keenan Spurr

November 5, 2019

Mr. Doherty you were an amazing teacher, truly my favorite at Weymouth South. I always looked forward to going to your semantics class. Thank you for being you!

George and Patricia Ghiorse

November 5, 2019

Dot, Elizabeth, and family,
Please accept our deepest condolences. Words can't express our admiration for Bill as a teacher, thinker, activist, lobsterman, husband, father, and human being. He was a fun and influential co-worker, for sure, but mostly a friend. The suspenders, the cap, the boat shoes, the scraggly beard, but, mostly, the wink and smile--indelibly etched into so many memories and those of his countless students. Dylan Thomas also said that he could "sing in his chains like the sea." We can hear Bill singing now. Carpe Diem!

Kyle Procter

November 4, 2019

Mr. Doherty was truly one of my all time favorite teachers at Weymouth South High School. His Semantics class was one that made one think and explore ones inner self...I still have some of the papers I wrote in his class with his feedback comments and grade. Because of his ability to connect with our age group, we never felt like we were being judged which resulted in us looking forward to attending his class. After reading his obituary, I am now even more inspired to live life to its fullest. Rest In Peace Mr. Doherty...you were a wonderful influence on the many students you taught. My thoughts and sincere condolences go out to your wife and family ❤

Rebecca Doyle

November 4, 2019

He was a great teacher and was one of the first people to help me think differently. He will be remembered by many.

Denise Handibode Pryde

November 4, 2019

What a wonderful life! And I cant think of two better people to have lived it. It is evident you have touched countless lives and been a blessing to all. May your story continue to inspire others to open their eyes and hearts to the world around us Love and peace. Denise Handibode class of 1986 Weymouth South.

Andy Dalton

November 4, 2019

Mr. Doherty was a great teacher. I was just telling someone about his exercise on explaining how to draw a triangle, now two days later I hear of his passing. I can still remember some of lessons. The "is" of identity, and so much more. He made you think and not just assume something at face value. Rest in peace.

Allison Hultman (Ings)

November 4, 2019

God Bless! I remember you and your wife at Weynouth High, I graduated in '95. It sure sounds like you lived life to the fullest. Good for you! You've touched so many lives through your teaching and left a lasting memory with us. Thank you!
My deepest condolences to you Dorothy, wife of 60 years! I hope that the extraordinary memories comfort you through this most difficult time. I also offer condolences to all other family and friends who are suffering from such a great loss.

Alison Spencer

November 4, 2019

He was one of my best teachers. please find peace knowing that he loved you his wife daughter and many family and friends. love and prayers .

Katie Roche

November 4, 2019

Mr. Doherty was one of the best teachers of my childhood. We need more Mr. Doherty's. I am thinking about his wife, Dorothy and the rest of the family during this tough time. It was so wonderful reading what he was up to after retirement. What an amazing human. Weymouth Class of 1998.

Maureen "McCourt" Lyons

November 4, 2019

So sorry to hear of Bill's passing. I have fond childhood memories of him at the Quincy Yacht Club. Always fun running down the gangway to greet the Ishmael when he docked. You never knew what delicacy he would bring in from the sea. Prayers to the family during this difficult time

Jennifer Petrosevich (Brennan)

November 4, 2019

Thank you for always making me think. Semantics was one hell of a class. Rest easy in the great unknown. Jenn2 (Jenn Squared) class of 97.

Carole Derringer

November 4, 2019

The best teacher ever !! Rest in Peace Mr. Doherty. You had a positive impact on thousands of Weymouth kids. Carole Derringer Weymouth South Class of '82

Ray Sinibaldi

November 4, 2019

I was a punk kid heading down the wrong path when I encountered Mr. Doherty. I had stumbled to the end of my sophomore year when Mr. Doherty took the time to reach out to me. It was a short conversation in which I participated little. He never knew how deeply he touched me nor that without him I may have never turned the corner. Funny, I remember reading Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night in his class. Thank you sir, I have always been and will forever remain grateful to you. How blessed was his family to have him and may the love and joys shared together sustain you all. God bless.

Alex Brown

November 4, 2019

I was a pleasure to serve with you on the MLA delegates board and on the MLA Executive board.

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