JOSEPH C. IAROCCI

Joseph C. Iarocci, a former Selectman of Topsfield and resident for 43 years, died on August 20, at age 77 following a brief illness. He was married to Audrey (Burkey) for over 50 years and had recently resided in Falmouth. Joe was a modest man who accomplished a great deal during his life. After growing up and completing high school in New Rochelle, New York, Joe served in the Air Force. His four years of military service took him all over the country as well as stints overseas in Puerto Rico, Morocco and elsewhere. In addition to his typical military tasks, Joe became a somewhat legendary fast-pitch softball player in the service. His love of the game and his great skill continued to bring him accolades in the Salem (Massachusetts) Fast Pitch League once he left active duty. Upon returning to civilian life, Joe attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he met Audrey. They married and started their family prior to him completing his degree. Joe worked full-time while going to school, and his growing family of now three young sons attended his graduation. The family remained in Milwaukee for a time as Joe worked for General Motors. While at GM, he had the opportunity to come east in the early 1960’s to work on the Apollo Project in conjunction with MIT, Raytheon and others. Although that move was meant to be temporary, Joe and Audrey fell in love with New England and moved the family to Topsfield permanently. His two daughters were born there. Joe impressed everyone he met, and was asked to stay on with a full-time job at the MIT Instrumentation Lab which later divested and became the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory. Joe began as a technical writer and worked on many defense and other interesting and sensitive projects during his lengthy and successful career. He rose to the position of Manager of Publications, retiring from Draper in 1994. After retirement, Joe become even more active in the town he deeply loved, Topsfield, Massachusetts. While his children were young, he was an active member of the Topsfield Athletic Association and coached many teams. This was a role he played for many people in every avenue of life, and he was known to his 13 grandchildren as “Coach” instead of a more traditional term. Throughout his time in Topsfield, he served on many town boards including the Finance Committee and the Elementary School Building Committee. He was a Director of the Historical Society and played an active role at St. Rose of Lima Parish. Having more time once retired, he ran for and served two terms on the town’s Board of Selectmen. Joe was loved for the humor column he wrote for the local paper, The Village Reporter. In his heart, he could never fully cut the ties to Topsfield, and continued to write this column even after leaving the town and moving to Cape Cod. He spent his final years with Audrey in Falmouth, and immediately began serving that community once becoming a year-round resident in 2005. He was a docent for Museums on the Green and a Director of the Falmouth Historical Society and acted as a liaison arranging a historical society exchange between Falmouth and Topsfield. He also taught an evening course in humor writing, an activity it pained him to stop when he grew ill. By far, his greatest accomplishment was being a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a deeply principled man, honest, respectful, empathetic, and very, very funny. In addition to his wife Audrey, and sister Marie Mogan of Pittsburgh, PA, Joseph is survived by his sons Joseph J. Iarocci and wife Laura of Atlanta, GA, Stephen Iarocci and wife Donna of Windham, NH, Michael Iarocci and wife Loree of Plymouth, MA; and his daughters Louise Santosuosso and husband Edward of North Reading, MA and Emily Iarocci and husband Douglas Parigian of Lowell, MA. He will also be sadly missed by his 13 grandchildren, Alexandra, Allison and Laura Caroline of Atlanta; Haley, Stephen and Isabella of New Hampshire, Michael and Andrew of Sandwich; Brian, Timothy and Leanne Anderson of Plymouth; Olivia and Emma Santsuosso of North Reading; he also leaves behind several uncles, nieces and nephews. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 10AM in Saint Rose of Lima Church, Park St., Topsfield. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Topsfield. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Pan-Mass Challenge, 77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02149, Reference number: LS0135. www.LyonsFuneral.com.