Joseph Leonard Hart

Joseph Leonard Hart, a consummate gentleman and scholar, was born 11 February 1947 in Somerville, Massachusetts and passed 25 September 2025 in Fredericksburg, VA.

Best Dad, Husband, Son, Brother, Brother-In-Law, Uncle, Friend, Neighbor, Adventurer, Shenanigan-appreciator in the "Whole Wide World and Texas."

Proud Army Veteran. Voracious reader of history – especially Civil War history – his Great Great… Uncle Captain Sanford H. Wakeman fought and died for the 36th Illinois Volunteers (Union Side – the winners) at the Battle of Chickamauga. Camp Commander of the Sedgewick-Granger Civil War Round Table Historic Group, Santa Ana, California.

Member of the Sons of the American Revolution – Patriot Ancestor was Great Great… Uncle Gershom Wakeman who was shot and killed at the Battle of Compo Hill.

Member of the Lexington Minutemen with his brothers James Edward Hart, Jr. and Richard 'Dick' Albert Hart and marched in parades for Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

Guest lecturer at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, School of Business.

Volunteer Archivist for Bob Hope Patriotic Hall earning him the Volunteer of the Year for the County of Los Angeles, 2013.

Volunteer at the Orange County Rescue Mission employment center helping people get employment to the point where there was nobody else to help at one point.

Coached numerous recreation soccer and basketball teams, girls and boys, and Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader and volunteer.

Teacher of "The Password" (1 Hen, 2 Ducks, 3 squawking geese…) and "The Sloth" (Oh I can climb the very highest Himalayas, Be among the greatest ever Tennis Players, Win at Chess, Marry a princess, Study hard and be an eminent professor…) to multiple generations of children.

Captain of two houseboats, a pontoon boat, and a 17-foot aluminum powerboat (non-concurrently, technically making him a Commodore) and a 1976 GMC motorhome, widely considered to be the only classic motorhome.

He camped, hiked, and enjoyed the grandeur of at least a dozen U.S. National Parks. He skied Colorado, Utah, California, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, including hiking Tuckerman Ravine.

Spent time in London and Paris (speaking passable French and ordering Steak Frites wherever he went) in the 70s.

Played the fife, drums, banjo and musette all by ear and could play the piano a bit.

He was a season ticket holder to the Celtics, Bruins, and Boston Whalers in the 1970s and 80s and annual pass holder for Disneyland in the 80s and 90s.

He owned homes in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, California, and Virginia.

Donated over 5 gallons of blood in his lifetime.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 48 years Patricia Anne Downey Hart, and his pride and joy daughter Jessica Wakeman Hart, son Jason Downey Hart and daughter-in-law Chloe Lennane (Boyd) Hart and his loving Maltese-Yorkie Teddy Roosevelt Hart. He also leaves behind his eldest brother Eugene Leon Hart, much loved sisters and brothers-in law, scads of wonderful nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many many friends who he considered family.

The Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Visitation will begin at the Church Hall beside the Church at 9:30 a.m. and will include coffee and pastries.

Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Procession to Quantico National Cemetery will follow Mass.

Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. and will last for 30 minutes.

*Boston-Area Mass and Celebration of Life will be planned for October 18, 2025. Details to follow.

Please send your thoughts, share your favorite "Joe" story here and maybe a picture for the family.

The family appreciates any sign of your love for them and Joe.

In lieu of flowers, three charities that Joe admired and supported are the American Battlefield Trust, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Or choose your favorite local historic charity – Joe loved his history.