Joseph James Doherty

1933 - 2016

(News story) Joseph James Doherty, a long-time Owens Corning executive who helped develop the Pink Panther advertising campaign for the company's Fiberglas insulating products, died Feb. 9 at his home in Salem, Mass. He was 82.

He died from cancer, said his daughter, Susan Doherty Dampier.

Mr. Doherty, formerly of Perrysburg, was employed at Owens Corning for 30 years and was vice president of marketing communications from 1978 until his retirement in 1991.

It was under his direction that the cartoon mascot - the slinky, silent Pink Panther - was adopted in the early 1980s to promote fiberglass insulating materials, one of the company's main products.

Mrs. Dampier said the high-profile marketing campaign went on to become her father's proudest accomplishment with the Fortune 500 company.

"I would say the Pink Panther was the crowning achievement of his career. He worked on it with a team in the marketing department," she said.

Mr. Doherty was born Sept. 18, 1933, to Catherine and James Doherty in Lawrence, Mass. He attended Central Catholic High School in Lawrence, Mass.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1951 after graduating from high school, and was sent to Hawaii. He returned to attend Auburn University, where he earned a business degree.

He married the former Sue Craver on July 8, 1961. They later divorced.

Mr. Doherty joined Owens Corning in 1961, and held branch and divisional marketing management assignments in Louisiana and Boston. He relocated to Toledo in 1968 and headed the company's corporate merchandising services division.

He was named corporate director of marketing communications in 1973.

In a story published in 2013 about the company's history in the marketing of Pink Panther for insulating products, Mr. Doherty said the pink color gave the Owens Corning sales team a way to distinguish its insulation from others on the market.

"I don't think we ever realized the power of pink in the marketplace. It was about differentiating with customers. Then we realized we had something different on our hands - it was the color," he said.

Jim Worden, a former Owens Corning marketing communication manager, said Mr. Doherty was a mentor to employees and respected for his contacts and connections in marketing.

"He taught me a lot of things. One thing he taught me was if you want to get something done, find a busy person," he said. "Joe was always one to speak up, support a position, and make sure his opinion was considered."

He was elected to the board of directors of the Association of National Advertisers in 1984.

After retiring from Owens Corning, Mr. Doherty was a senior account executive in the New York public relations firm Burson-Marsteller until 1995. He also lived in Martha's Vineyard, where he spent his summer retirement years sailing.

Surviving are his son, James Doherty; daughter, Susan Doherty Dampier, and a granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael.

A celebration of life is planned for this summer in Salem.

Tributes are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

This is a news story written by the Toledo Blade.