Joseph Francis Turley

1925 - 2016

Joseph Francis Turley

Vero Beach, FL

Joseph Francis Turley passed away at home on December 16, 2016 with his wife Marjorie at his side. He was born June 2, 1925 to Irish immigrant parents, who impressed upon their children the value of education. He attended St. Peter's parochial school before being admitted to Boston Latin School. He joined the Navy during World War II, and spent 18 months in the Pacific as a gunnery petty officer before landing in Nagasaki, Japan immediately after the detonation of the second atomic bomb. He spent a year in Japan as part of the occupying American forces. Upon returning to Boston, he married Frances Marie Hurley. He enrolled in Harvard College on the G.I. Bill and received a Bachelor of Arts with honors in two and one-half years with the class of 1950. He received his Master's degree in economics from University of Minnesota the following year. Upon returning to Boston, he worked for the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, and then later as director of research in the College of Business Administration of Boston College. He joined Gillette in 1960 as assistant to the president of the company. He rose through the ranks, moving in 1966 to Spain for three years to start a factory. He acquired a lifelong appreciation and love of Spain and Spanish culture. He spent many of the happiest days of his life there. He moved to Montreal in 1969 as president of Gillette Canada before returning to Boston as president of the Safety Razor Division in 1971. He became the executive vice president of Gillette North America in 1976, joined the board of Gillette in 1980, and became President and Chief Operating Officer of The Gillette Company in 1981. His leadership demonstrated a high standard of ethics and committed concern for the wellbeing of employees, customers and the local community. He loved to travel and spent much of his time as president visiting business concerns worldwide. He retired from Gillette in 1988. Joe served on many boards, including the United Way, several universities and a number of charitable groups. After retirement, he spent summers in Marblehead, Massachusetts and winters in Vero Beach, Florida. After his wife passed away, Joe married Marge in 2005 and spent the last 11 years of his life a very happy man, both in Newport, Rhode Island and in Vero Beach, Florida. Joe loved the ocean, boats, maritime art, travel, and reading, particularly WWII history. A lifelong and staunch Democrat, Joe was very concerned about racial discrimination and poverty. He will be remembered for his dry wit and lack of pretention. In addition to his wife Marjorie (Peterson) Turley, he leaves his children and their spouses, Sharon Harpin (Bill), Donna Turley (Kate Keegan), and Jay Turley (Liza). He is survived by his grandchildren, Margaret and Will Harpin, and innumerable granddogs. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Donations in Joe's memory can be sent to The ARC of Indian River County, 1375 16th Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960.