Donald Maurice Doherty of Newington, dearly beloved husband of Margaret Mary “Meg” (Tynan) Doherty passed away on Monday, June 17, 2019. He was born May 9, 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts, son of the late Donald and Catherine (Morrison) Doherty. Don’s father tragically died before Don was born and his mother was left to raise six children. A man of true integrity, Don respected and embraced his Irish heritage and was proud to be born and raised an Irish, Catholic, Democrat and a Boston Red Sox fan on “Hungry Hill”, Springfield, MA. Don was a kind and gentle man, who always had a kind word for everyone. His Irish heritage was always a great source of pride for him and he loved all things Irish. One of the greatest highlights of his retirement was a trip to Ireland with his beautiful wife Meg, his loving children, their spouses and six grandchildren. Besides his loving wife Meg, his three treasured children, Joan Elizabeth Darling and her husband David of Killingworth, Maura Patricia Thompson and her husband DJ of Higganum and John Tynan Doherty and his wife Carrie of Ellington survive him. Nine cherished grandchildren also survive him: Clare Mack and her husband Jon, Kathleen Darling, Donny and Danny Thompson, Emily, Jack, Lilah, Lux and Seraphina Doherty, and a great granddaughter Addison Elizabeth Mack. Don was a gentleman of strong Catholic faith and a communicant of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Newington. He received a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Charter Oak College and completed a Connecticut Executive Management Course while at Connect DOT. Don served proudly in the Marine Corps. He retired from the Connecticut Department of Transportation in 1997 after 27 years of service where he was Public Concessions Manager, Assistant Director of Property Control and Assistant Rail Administrator. After retiring, he spent 10 years with Baker Engineering, NY, Inc. where he served as Operations Manager of the Connecticut Office. While at Baker, he served on the Board of Directors of the Construction Management Association of America (Southern New England Chapter), Society of American Military Engineers, Industry Advisory Council (Connecticut Department of Public Works), New England Railroad Club and Operation Lifesaver (Connecticut Statutory Committee Member). He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Freestone Council #7 of Portland, Connecticut. His sisters, Sister Catherine Doherty, SSJ, Mary Doherty and Ann Green, predeceased him. Two sisters, Jane O’Donoghue and Elizabeth O’Connor both of MA, survive him.
He leaves many loving nieces and nephews.
Friends and relatives may pay their respects to the Doherty family, Wednesday, June 19, 2019 from 5-8 pm at the Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield. A Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating Don’s life will be Thursday, June 20th at 10am in Holy Spirit Church of Annunciation Parish, 183 Church St. Newington. Interment will follow the Mass in State of CT Veterans’ Cemetery, Bow Lane, Middletown. In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s memory may be made to the John and Winifred Tynan Scholarship, Mercy High School, 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown, CT 06457. To extend online condolences and/or share a memory, please visit farleysullivan.com.