Dr. Charles Lakeman "Joe" Ward Jr.

Dr. Charles "Joe" Ward, of Concord, died Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the age of 90. He had been a resident of The Birches assisted living facility in Concord, since 2015.

Dr. Charles "Joe" Ward was born on March 17, 1927, in Boston. He grew up in Concord, Mass., where his father was a teacher at the Fenn School. Following graduation from Middlesex Academy, in 1945, he served in the U.S. Navy. After the war he attended Harvard University, graduating in 1950. He obtained an M.D. from Boston University School of Medicine in 1954 and did an internship at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., residency training at Mount Auburn Hospital, in Cambridge Mass., and a specialization in internal medicine and gastroenterology at the Lahey Clinic from 1957-1960.

While in New York he met his bride, Harriet Love McIntyre, of Honolulu during a tennis match, organized by a mutual friend. They were married in 1958 and lived in Brookline, Mass. for two years before moving to Concord in June 1960, where Dr. Ward joined the Concord Clinic, on Pillsbury Street. He practiced internal medicine with the Concord Clinic until 1989, and subsequently as a physician at the NH State Prison and the Hillsborough Country jail until he officially retired, in 2010.

He lived in the same house on North Fruit Street for 55 years. Joe was a devoted father and husband, who lived a life dedicated to helping others. Both he and his wife, Harriet, were very engaged in the Concord community. Dr. Ward served as President of the Concord Clinic from 1973-1975, and President of the Concord Hospital medical staff from 1981-1982. He served as General Campaign Chairman of the United Way in 1974, and was also an original and active supporter of creating a non-profit movie theater in Concord, serving on the original board of what became the Red River Theater.

During his career he became interested in addiction and was a strong supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous. His interest in community service continued until his death; as recently as November, 2016 he met with the CEO of the Concord Hospital, to advocate for the training of new employees in recognizing the signs of addiction.

Joe will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, which often came through during conversations, and a passion for travel. During his youth he began lifelong interests in bird watching and tennis. He and his wife, Harriet, made many trips overseas, to Europe, Asia and Latin America. Joe even organized more than one trip to Africa, including all three grown children, creating many fond memories as a family. Joe is sadly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by three children, Dana Ward, currently living in Accra, Ghana, Suzanne Novacek, of Lancaster and Rosemary Poling, of Albuquerque, N.M. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Nicholas Ward and Sophia Novacek along with four nieces and nephews and their extended families. He is predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Harriet McIntyre Ward, who died in 2008, and his brother, Thomas Dillingham Ward, who died in 2015.

A memorial service for Joe will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, at 11 a.m. at the Audubon Society in Concord.

The interment will be in the Mount Auburn Cemetery, in Cambridge, Mass.