DOHERTY, Robert E. “Bob” During the afternoon of July 8, 2025, Bob Doherty passed away peacefully with members of his loving family by his side. He died of natural causes at Elliot hospital in Manchester, NH shortly before his 95th birthday.
Bob was born in Natick, Massachusetts to Arthur H. and Dorothy Donovan Doherty on July 25, 1930 in the depths of the great depression. His family persevered due to the hard work and efforts of his parents and siblings. Bob’s older brothers, twins Bill and Arthur and his younger brother Chuck all grew up with an expectation of kindness to others and service to our nation and to society. Arthur went on to become a priest, Bill was a career army officer and later a teacher and Chuck was an Air Force officer and later a pilot for NASA.
Bob joined the Army National Guard while in high school and served in ROTC while at Boston College and then joined the Air Force upon graduation. His dream was to become a pilot. While in flight school he met his future wife, Mae Louise Perry and was married in 1955. They had their first of six children, Colleen in March of 1956. Shortly before the birth of Colleen, Bob's father passed away unexpectedly leaving his mother with a business to run, the Doherty Funeral Home in Natick. Giving up on his dream to serve full time in the Air Force, Bob decided it was up to him to take over the family business. He kept his commission in the Air Force but as a reservist and continued this role of businessman/Air Force officer until his retirement after 34 years.
Life was busy for this man, juggling the tasks of running a business, with his wife Mae, raising six children, performing civic duties with the Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus and on numerous boards and committees. He also was required to be flying one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. He rose through the ranks in the Air force reserves and ultimately attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. One of his fondest times in the service was when he was able to coordinate his flights to be with two of his brothers when they were both serving in Viet Nam.
He was also a loving friend to many, always helping out in fundraising activities and other charitable work. He was an active member in the local Saint Patrick’s parish in Natick and as a football and soccer coach at St Patrick’s school where his children spent their formative years. His other activities were playing golf with his many friends, skiing in New Hampshire and Vermont, boating and water skiing on lake Cochituate, spending time at the family home in Scituate and swimming at the Natick Labs (DEVCOM) officers’ club.
Bob was predeceased by his three brothers, Arthur, Bill and Chuck, his son Robert A. (Bobby) in 1980 and his son Thomas E. (Ted) in 2018, as well as his second wife Barbara in 2016.
He is survived by his first wife Mae Louise Doherty, his daughters Colleen Gallagher of Nantucket, MA; his son John (Sheila) Doherty of Colchester, VT; Kerry Humphrey of Manchester, NH and Erin (Mike) Brooks of East Sandwich, MA. Bob is survived by eleven grandchildren, five great grandchildren and his second wife Barbara’s adult children who were all very close to him.
A visitation will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St, (Rt.16) Wellesley on Monday, July 21 from 9:30-10:30am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Patrick Church, Natick at 11:00am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in St. Patrick Cemetery, Natick.
In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation in Bob's name may be made to any veterans organization.