Mr. Robert E. Doherty, of Taunton, died Wednesday, August 27 at The Arbors in
Taunton. He was 84. He was the husband of Joan (Conroy) Doherty, now residing at
Marian Manor, Taunton, and was the son of the late Robert J. and Nora (Powers)
Doherty. A Fall River native who graduated from Msgr. James Coyle High School in
Taunton in 1941, and from Providence College with honors in 1949, Doherty returned
to Coyle as a teacher from 1949 to 1953. From 1953 to 1989 he worked as a materials
manager in the electronics/defense industry. He was employed by Raytheon, Texas
Instruments, RCA, and Dynatron of Waltham in which he had a vested interest and from
which he retired in 1989. Over the years, Doherty’s poems and articles were printed in national publications. After retirement, he developed into an author, noted World War II
historian and free lance military writer. In 1988, he won a grant from the Air Force, and soon after had his first book published. All told, Doherty had four books published, including two of poetry. In 1995 he won the TELLY AWARD for history, for his work as Associate Producer of the video documentary about POW life in Germany. Funded by
the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the video “Behind the Wire” is shown at most air war
military museums including Britain’s Imperial Museum. Doherty sporadically reviewed
the literature of World War II for the Providence Journal (where he worked before the war and during his years at Providence College). He regularly reviewed the air-war liter-
ature for the Washington based STARS & STRIPES throughout the 1990’s. A highly
decorated World War II U.S. Army Air Force veteran, Doherty merited the Air Medal with two clusters, the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal. His bomber was shot
down during the first Berlin raid, March 4, 1944. He was a P.O.W. for 14 months. Dur-
ing the Korean War, Doherty served as a Master Sergeant with Taunton’s Army Reserve
Unit, the 320th Military Police Battalion. Doherty served as editor/publisher for the 96th
Bomb Group Association and for the Mass. Chapter of the 8th Air Force. Locally he was a member of the American Legion and was a lifelong member of the Disabled American
Veterans Chapter 57 and the David F. Adams Post 611 Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church.
In addition to his loving wife of 62 years, Joan, he leaves:
3 sons: Dr. Mark Doherty of Lakeville, Ma.
Robert E. Doherty, Jr. of Chester, Ct.
Christopher Doherty of Bethesda, Md.
1 daughter: Katherine Doherty of Wilmington, Ma.
10 grandchildren
4 great grandchildren
several nieces and nephews
Funeral services will be held from The Riendeau-Mulvey Funeral Home, 467 Bay Street,
Taunton, on Tuesday, September 2 at 9:00 A.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Church at 10:00 A.M. Interment with military honors will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting Hours will be held on Monday, from 5:00 to8:00 P.M. Expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 57, P.O.Box 57, Taunton, Ma., 02780.