Justin Kelleher, 81, of Mattapoisett died peacefully at home on Friday, September 8, 2023.
The son of Joseph and Mary (Curran) Kelleher, Justin was born on October 13, 1941, and was the eldest of six children growing up in New Bedford; a city whose history and his family’s connection to it was a favorite topic of conversation.
He attended Holy Family High School in New Bedford and graduated from Boston College, class of 1963. After college, Justin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps earning the rank of Captain.
Returning to Boston after posts in Japan and California, Justin reunited with lifelong friends from Boston College and met his wife M.P. They were married in 1969 and together for 37 years until her passing. He lived in Wellesley for over 35 years before making his summer residence in Mattapoisett his permanent home. Justin’s career building management teams for business technology companies spanned from Digital Equipment Corp. to small start-ups in the early 2000s. After retirement, Justin took an interest in gardening and completed the Certified Master Gardener program with the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, where he volunteered on a regular basis at Elm Bank in Wellesley. He enjoyed many rounds of mediocre golf with friends and family over the years, but was especially happiest playing with his grandson, Charlie. Justin also became an “accomplished” artist after joining a painting class in Jupiter, FL, where he spent his winters. His subjects were almost always seascapes of his beloved Buzzards Bay, or scenes of coastal cities he had traveled to.
There was nothing Justin loved more than tinkering around boats, casting a line for a striper, and sitting on the beach with the southwest wind in his hair. He would always
point out an osprey with “fish on” while also calling out the various sloops and yawls making their way in and out of Mattapoisett harbor, “Concordia! Herreshoff!”. An enthusiast of a perfectly made vodka martini and a dozen oysters followed by a lobster, he embraced everything about the sea. He was a friend to many and his devilish sense of humor, wit and wisdom will be dearly missed.
Justin was pre-deceased by his wife M.P. (McCarthy) Kelleher. He is survived by his daughter Amy Merk, of Hingham, her husband Dana, and grandson Charlie whom he was immensely proud of, and his siblings Katherine Walsh, Joe, John, Mary and Tom Kelleher, and many nieces and nephews.
His family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to his care-givers and the compassion and support of New England Hospice.
Donations in Justin’s memory may be made to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society or the Mattapoisett Land Trust. A private celebration of life will be held later this fall. For online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com
