On Wednesday, May 19, 2021, Joseph W. Finegan, Jr., of Peabody, passed away at the age of 86 due to unexpected cardiac complications.

Joe was born on February 11, 1935 in Malden, Massachusetts, the oldest child of Mary and Joseph W. Finegan. Joe was the loving husband of Patricia (Hayes) Finegan for 60 years. They lived together in Peabody for six decades, and there they raised their two daughters, Debra and Susan.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Tufts University in 1956, Joe started his career as a civil engineer at the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. He spent his entire professional career at the Corps, and was Chief of the Reservoir Control Center at the time of his retirement in 1990. He was a revered leader and a respected mentor to many aspiring engineers along the way.

Joe spent decades volunteering on conservation issues for the City of Peabody, first as a longstanding Conservation Commission member. He then served as a volunteer consultant on several environmental projects, work that continued until weeks before his death. For his longstanding environmental work for the city, the Mayor dedicated a bench in his honor at Peabody’s Crystal Lake in 2019.

Joe’s primary passion was his family. He was a loving husband to his wife, whom he met at work when he first started at the Corps. He was a proud father to his daughters, teaching them by example the importance of civic service, kindness, and humility. For the last two decades, much of his time was spent with his grandchildren, Connor and Jack, of whom he was so proud. With weekly family dinners and attendance at countless sports, music, and other events, he was a constant figure in their lives. Among his many loves was his beloved summer house, on Lake Winnipesaukee, the “camp,” which he bought with his father when he was 25.

Joe was also an avid reader, often choosing to tackle lengthy books on obscure topics. He loved to tend to his yard and garden, which brought him great joy and satisfaction. He was a decades-long coin collector, a collection that he just recently passed along to other members of his family.

Joe was preceded in death by his father and mother, Joseph and Mary, and one of his sisters, Marilyn Fay. He is survived by his wife Patricia of Peabody, Massachusetts; his two daughters Debra Finegan (Brent Morgan) of Exeter, New Hampshire and Susan Finegan (Mark Vasu) of Newton, Massachusetts; his two grandsons Connor Finegan Vasu and Jack Finegan Vasu; and his surviving siblings Barbara Forsey of Peabody, Massachusetts and Ruth Izzo of Copley, Ohio.

Joe enjoyed a long, well-lived life. Those who were fortunate to have known him will remember him for his kindness, his dedication, and his infectious smile.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at Conway Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody, on Tuesday, May 25th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Adelaide’s Church, 712 Lowell Street, Peabody, on Wednesday, May 26th at 10:30 a.m. All attending the wake or funeral must wear a face mask and adhere to social distancing protocols. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joe’s honor to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org).