Joseph Charles Bromander of Medford, Massachusetts passed away peacefully in his sleep with his wife by his side on Friday, November 6, 2026 after 94 years.
Joey was born January 6, 1932, at home just like his two siblings – a fact he loved sharing. The youngest child of Sidney and Eunice (Dawson) Bromander ,Joe was a lifelong resident of Medford. He graduated from Medford Vocational High School with the class of 1950.
Shortly after Joey turned 18, he was drafted into the Army and served in Korea. When he returned, he met through mutual friends the love of his life Mary “Carole” (Hackett) who he married in 1958. Together they moved only a few blocks away from his childhood home in North Medford, to the house where he would raise his five children
Following in his father’s footsteps, Joe earned his Master Electrician license while he worked at Dee Electric in West Medford and soon became the shop foreman. He later worked for Tufts University. He was also a member of the Norman Prince VFW Post 1506, where, despite never engaging in alcohol himself, he frequently served as a weekend bartender. When not working, Joe loved to garden. He would grow tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, and Christmas cacti -which he then would distribute to unsuspecting family members when they got too large for his planters- and also flowers for Carole. Joe was known in the family for his sense of humor; he was a master at landing a joke with a straight face, and a core memory for his grandchildren is the sound of his voice on the answering machine telling them the “all the B’s” were out of the hive and to “buzz” them back later. He was also a student of history, a trait he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He was fascinated by ancestry and kept a family tree that stretched back to distant relations in Sweden which, if the family lore is to be believed, were once members of the Swedish royal family.
Joesph is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Carole (Hackett) Bromander; his five children, Beth Gilreath and her husband Mark of Andover , Jay Bromander and his wife Susanne of Stoneham, Stephanie Lendall and her husband Jay of Medford, Mark Bromander and his wife Anne of Medford, and Andrew Bromander of Ft Lauderdale, Florida. He was the best Grandpa to his six grandchildren, Alexis, Paige, Olivia, Simon Bromander, Derek and Dana Lendall. Adored by the countless pets of the family, most importantly by their 12 year old cat referred to as ‘Baby’ whose favorite place to sit was his lap. He was predeceased by his dearly loved sister Helen Moulton and her husband Lloyd and big brother Sydney Bromander and wife Rose, both of Wilmington, MA. He leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews.
He will be missed. We hope to “buzz” him back later.
Relatives & friends are invited to attend visiting hours held at the Breslin Funeral Home, 610 Pleasant St., Malden on Wednesday November 11th from 12 PM to 3 PM.