Joseph P. Hanlon, 88, of Wellesley died peacefully with his family by his side on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Newton Wellesley Hospital after a period of declining health. He was the beloved husband of Phyllis M. (Murphy) Hanlon for 53 years.
Born in Framingham on June 22, 1937, he was the son of the late Cornelius A. and Esther (MacLeod) Hanlon.
Joe was a resident of Wellesley for the past 53 years. He grew up in Medway, graduated from Medway High School in 1955, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University. He later received his master’s degree in education from the former Boston State College in 1965.
Joe started his career teaching history and government and later became the assistant principal at Medway High School in 1967, a position he held for 37 years. Upon retiring in 2002, the town honored him by naming the new football field at Medway High School in his name for his many years of service and dedication to the students and athletes of Medway. A mentor and known as Uncle Joe to many, he was a long-time football coach, and as a vice principal, he was always known to support every student who walked the hallways of Medway High School. In 2024, Joe was inducted into the Hall of Excellence at Medway High School.
Joe was a devout catholic and parishioner of St. Paul Parish in Wellesley where he served as a eucharistic minister and on the St Paul School Board.
Besides his wife Phyllis, he is survived by two daughters Tara McHale and her husband Kevin of Bethesda, Maryland and Melissa Kelley and her husband Justin of Medway, and his son Brendan Hanlon of Charleston, South Carolina. Joe was the proud grandfather of William and Joseph McHale and Erin, Lauren, and Patrick Kelley.
He is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary Hanlon of Quincy and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and life-long friends who he considered family.
He was predeceased by his siblings, Jerome Hanlon and his wife Irene, Therese Kenney and her husband William, Rosemary VanRye and her husband Jack, Eunice Hanlon, and Bernard Hanlon.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Mass at St. Paul Church, 502 Washington St. in Wellesley on Friday, August 8 at 11 a.m. You can watch the Mass via livestream by visiting:
https://sjspwellesley.org/sp/live/
Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Medway.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, August 7 from 4 - 7 p.m. in the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home, 3 Barber St. in Medway ginleyfuneralhomes.com
In lieu of flowers, Joe’s family request that donations be made in his memory to the Joseph P. Hanlon Scholarship Award c/o Medway High School Guidance Dept., 88 Summer St., Medway, MA 02053.