Rev. Joseph Philip Smyth, born on September 20, 1928, Cambridge MA, an only child to his late mother Mary E. O’Hara Smyth and his father Joseph T. Smyth.
Fr. Joseph Smyth Attended Catholic Schools, St. Peter’s Elementary and went to Boston College High School. Fr. Joe then went on to attending Boston College and received his degree in Mathematics in 1949. Fr. Joe had earned a Master of Business Administration in 1951 at Harvard University.
Fr. Joe later enlisted in the United States Air Force and served during the Korean War.
Following his military service, he entered the workforce as a Field Manager of the New England Sales District for Ford Motor Company from 1953-1955.
At that point, Fr. Joseph experiencing a pull toward ordained ministry, entered St. John’s Seminary in Brighton MA. Fr. Joseph then received his second Master’s in Theology 1959 and was ordained a priest at the age of 30.
Fr. Smyth served as a curate at St. Mary’s Parish in Dracut and St. Lawrence Parish in Brookline. He began his post-graduate studies at Harvard toward a PhD while living at St. John’s Parish in North Cambridge 1962-1965.
From 1965-1971, he was assigned as a Sociology Professor at St. John’s Seminary College while living on campus.
In 1969, he received his PhD from Harvard University. His thesis was on “Social Structural and Personality Factors in Occupational Planning”.
Fr. Smyth’s next assignment was Priest Personnel Director for the Archdiocese of Boston 1971-1979, during that assignment he resided at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Andover MA.
His next assignment was at St. Mary’s Parish in Chelmsford, MA from 1970-1997.
He retired in 1998 in his home in Nashua N.H. Since that time Fr. Joe had been serving unassigned as Senior Priest for week-end Ministry at St. Bernadette Parish, Randolph, MA for 10 years.
For the last 8 years Fr. Smyth was a resident at Regina Cleri, Boston, MA. A retirement home for Senior Priests of the Archdiocese of Boston.
During Fr. Joe’s career he built strong relationships, and many of those relationships transitioned beyond the workplace to become trusted and treasured friends. Fr. Smyth has been an influential and important part of so many people’s lives including his longtime trusted friends and survivors, Peg Doyle, and Nancy Benetti, who were both in Music Ministry at different churches. You shaped who we are. You influenced all of us so greatly. We will always love you and save a special corner of our hearts to keep you with us. And we know our families will miss you every day of their lives. If you had such friend in your life, then you will appreciate the true worth of eternal friendship.
Fr. Joe love spending time at our family functions and holidays with us. A man of great wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. A gentle giant, but yet a man who was greatly respected.
Fr. Joe was a wiser man than he was yesterday. Gaining knowledge was a daily adventure that he enjoyed throughout his life. His love of learning did not stop just because school did, Fr. Joe always applied himself to constant learning and committed himself to learn something new every day. He loved learning the stories about the different arias in opera music, the meaning of boat flags, which convey different messages from ship to shore. Fr. Joe was an avid reader and read the Wall Street Journal from top to bottom, never throwing away a newspaper until he could read it completely.
His church homilies were extremely thought through and educational. Fr. Joe would preach so every parishioner could understand the meaning behind his talks so that his parishioners could walk away with being fed.
His spiritual life was filled with listening tapes that were educational.
Fr. Joe had a heart of love for our God.
He had a good nature side of him and was a lot of fun at our shows at St. Mary’s. He loved to sing, especially on St. Patrick’s Day, and enjoyed dancing at all the gatherings at St. Bernadette Parish, and the companionship and company of all.
His concelebrated Funeral Mass will be Friday, March 26, at 10 a.m. at St Joseph Parish, 68 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston, MA. Interment at Cambridge Cemetery, Cambridge MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Regina Cleri Residence, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114.