Joseph C. Flaherty

PORTLAND-Joseph C. Flaherty, 82, of Old Orchard Beach and Ft. Myers, FL, died Saturday Feb 23, 2013 at Hope Hospice in Ft. Myers. He was born on October 7, 1930 in Portland, a son of Coleman and Nora Flaherty. Joseph attended parochial schools and was a 1948 graduate of Cheverus High School. He played football, track and basketball and was a member of the 1948 Cheverus State Championship Basketball Team. He was inducted into the Cheverus Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. In 1952 he graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. He played basketball and was captain of four Maritime Intercollegiate Championships and two Canadian Intermediate Championship Basketball teams. He was inducted into the StFX Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Following college, Joseph served in the Army from 1952-1955 as an investigator with the Counter Intelligence Corp during the Korean Conflict. After his military service, Joseph began his career in the field of insurance in New York City. He met his future bride while working for North British and Mercantile Insurance in New Jersey. On June 18, 1960 he married the former Marjorie Grasso at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, NJ. Following their honeymoon, the couple moved to Maine. Joseph continued to work in the insurance field and in 1967 he opened The Joseph C. Flaherty Insurance Agency in Portland. He served the community until his retirement in 1997. Joseph's love of sports continued throughout his life. He was a football official for over 25 years and officiated over 400 high school, college and semi-pro football games. He was a lifetime member of the Maine Association of Football Officials and served as president of the Portland Chapter. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 2009. He was an avid golfer with his friends at the Hideaway Country Club and a spectator at all of his children's and grandchildren's sporting events. Joseph was a community minded person who belonged to numerous organizations including: Harold T. Andrews American Legion Post, a life member of the Portland Elks Lodge, an alumni member of the Portland Boys and Girls Club. He was a devout catholic and was a communicant of St. Margaret's Church in Old Orchard Beach and a former communicant of St. Joseph's Church in Portland. Joseph was predeceased by his parents; two sisters, Helen Kane, Mary Flaherty; three brothers, James, Thomas, and John Flaherty; and this week lost a sister-in-law Elaine Flaherty. Survivors include his beloved wife Marjorie Flaherty of Old Orchard Beach and Ft. Myers, FL; a son, Joseph C. Flaherty, Jr and wife Eva of Andover, MA; three daughters, Lois Flaherty of South Portland, Donna McMorrow and husband John of Methuen, MA, Kathleen Flaherty of Chicago, IL; 7 grandchildren, Jake Flaherty, Sarah Flaherty, Emma Flaherty, Ryan J. Flaherty Loring, Michael McMorrow, Sean McMorrow, Audrey McMorrow; a sister, Anne Stone of Portland; a sister-in-law, Alice Flaherty of Scarborough; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the chapel followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Church, 673 Stevens, Ave. Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.Online condolences may be expressed below.