Joseph Richard DeCourcey

Portland - Joseph R. DeCourcey, 83, passed away Saturday, November 10, 2018, at Maine Medical Center surrounded by family. Known as "Dickie" to his family and childhood friends, Joe was born in Portland on May 20, 1935. A son of the late Thomas F. DeCourcey of Bundowlish, County Galway, Ireland and Annie (McGonigle) DeCourcey of Portland he was raised in "Libbytown" and attended St. Patrick's School and graduated from Cheverus High School in 1953. Joe attended the Portland Junior College for one year before being drafted into the United States Army in September 1954, at 19 years of age. Joe trained at Fort Dix, NJ for Infantry then Fort Chaffee, AR for advanced combat in Field Artillery and later qualified as a sharpshooter. Joe shipped out of Camp Kilmer, NJ in a combat unit on the German border during the Korean Conflict. Joe mustered out of the Army at Fort Carson, CO in 1956 and was honorably discharged after serving 8 years in the Army Reserves. Under the GI Bill Joe finished his Bachelor's degree at the University of Maine in Orono and a Master's Degree in Psychology and Counseling from the University of Maine in Portland. Joe first taught in Gray in 1960, then at Winthrop High School from 1961-1962, and Westbrook High School from 1963-1966 where he taught history and coached track. At the age of 31 he became the youngest Dean in Maine assuming the role of Dean of Student Affairs at the Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute (SMVTI) in South Portland, where he continued until his retirement 33 years later in 1999. At the time of his retirement SMVTI had been renamed SMTC which is now known as SMCC. Joe felt a strong connection to his Irish roots and became a dual citizen of the U.S. in 1986. Because Joe's father Thomas and his maternal grandmother, Annie Wallace McGonigle immigrated from Ireland, Joe felt the obligation to pay back the Portland Community thru public service. He was a member of the Portland Planning Board from 1985-1997 and Chairman of the Planning Board from 1991-1992. Some of the many accomplishments of the Board during his tenure were the expansion of Maine Medical Center as well as the University of Southern Maine, the Portland International Jetport, Portland High School, Westbrook College, and the Cumberland County Courthouse. During his tenure Joe also contributed to the development or improvements of the Cheverus High School Athletic Facility, the Westbrook College Athletic Facility, the Middle School renovations, the Deering Oaks Master Plan, the Middle Street Office Towers, the Maine State Pier pedestrian walkway, the Eastern Prom Park, the University of Southern Maine Library, Hadlock Field Baseball Stadium, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad, the Regency Hotel, and the Downtown Arts District Plan. Most important to Joe was his family and his wife Liz. Joe and Liz rarely missed watching a Boston Red Sox or New England Patriots game. Joe also loved gardening, traveling, had a passion for clocks, and his "Libbytown" roots. Joe was married to Verna St. Jean DeCourcey in June of 1960, and they had 6 sons. Joe married Elizabeth "Liz" (Johnson) DeCourcey in 1996 and they enjoyed many wonderful years together enjoying family, friends, travel, and various hobbies. Joe especially enjoyed his gardens. Joseph was predeceased by his sister, Anastasia Westphal; two brothers, Thomas and Wallace DeCourcey; a step son, Robert Pare; a sister-in-law, Ellen "Terri" DeCourcey; a brother-in-law, Albert Westphal; nephews, David DeCourcey, Joseph DeCourcey; and a grand-niece, Stephanie Lee DeCourcey. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Elizabeth "Liz" (Johnson) DeCourcey of Portland; six sons, Richard DeCourcey of Cumberland, Dr. James DeCourcey and his wife Heather of Yarmouth, John DeCourcey and his wife Lila Simpson of AZ, Michael DeCourcey and his wife Ericka of NM, Joseph DeCourcey and his wife Serena-Angela DiLorenzo of MA, Patrick DeCourcey of Falmouth; a daughter in law, April DeCourcey of Cumberland; two step daughters, Kimberly Pare of FL, Nancy Pare Burton and her husband Richard Burton of North Yarmouth; a step son, Albert Pare of York; 16 grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. The wife and family of Joseph R. DeCourcey wish to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff in the CICU and P3CD unit at Maine Medical Center for the care, respect, and sincere compassion they gave Joe. Visiting hours will be held from 4:00PM-7:00PM on Friday, November 16, 2018 at the Conroy-Tully Walker South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at the Funeral Home on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 9:15am followed by a 10:00am Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street, Portland. Burial with military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 672 Stevens Avenue in Portland. A celebration in honor of Joseph R. DeCourcey will be held at the Peter A. McKernan Hospitality Center, 122 McKernan Drive on the SMCC Campus on Sunday, November 18, 2018, from 1-4. Family and friends are welcome. Memorial contributions may be made in Joseph's memory to Southern Maine Community College Foundation (SMCC Foundation), Attn: SMCC Foundation, 2 Fort Road, South Portland, ME 04106