Joseph M. Patten

Joseph Martin Patten, 86, passed away peacefully early on the morning of August 7th, 2021 at the Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, from complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease.

A son of the late Henry and Alice (Burke) Patten, Joe was proudly “OFD” (Originally From Dorchester), where he grew up on the sandlots and ball fields of St. Mark’s Parish. Despite losing his parents as a teenager, Joe graduated from Boston Latin High School and then found his footing in the Army, most notably as a helicopter crew chief in Germany. Following his service, he was part of a group of veterans who attended UMass-Amherst, where he won the prestigious Woodrow Wilson fellowship.  Joe used his fellowship to complete a Masters in Labor and Industrial Relations at the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana.

In 1965, in New York City, Joe met and soon became engaged to Marcia (Placzek) Patten, with whom he would be married for the next fifty-five years.  After an initial year in Chicago where they made lasting memories with close friends and the extended Patten family, Joe and Marcia returned to Cambridge, MA. There Joe worked in top administrative roles at MIT, including at the Sloan School of Management, until transitioning into a career as a consultant with the Strategic Planning Institute (SPI), also in Cambridge.

In February, 1977, with their 18th month old son Adam, Joe and Marcia moved from Cambridge to Westborough. Joe enjoyed playing tennis in local leagues, coaching youth sports, serving on town committees, and wearing out the chairs at the library. At work, he transitioned from Senior Vice-President at SPI to developing his own consulting practice, while also serving as an Instructor to Executive MBA students at the University of New Haven. Upon retirement, Joe put his skills to work as a volunteer for the Worcester chapter of the Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE), serving as Chairman for a time. Exceedingly humble, he often referred to himself as being known in town as Marcia’s husband and Adam’s father. However, everyone who knew him respected and loved him for the kind, funny, and generous person that he was.

In addition to his parents, Joe is predeceased by his brother, Henry and wife Patricia (Broderick) Patten of Ledyard, CT. He is survived by his wife Marcia and son Adam, sister-in-law Dorothy (Placzek) Dauge of Marblehead, nieces and nephews Kathy (Paul) Thaller of So. Windsor, CT, Bob (Jill) Patten of Waterford, CT, Steve (Sue) Patten of Cromwell, CT, Jim (Karyn) Walsh of Swampscott, Debbie (Frank) Monahan of Marblehead, John (Bonnie) Placzek of Granby, Sue Mann of Springfield, and Patricia Higgins of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Visiting hours will be held Sunday, August 15th from 3 to 6 pm at the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main Street, Westborough.   Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Monday at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main Street, Westborough, followed by burial with Military Honors in Pine Grove Cemetery.

With deep gratitude Joe’s family would like to thank the outstanding nursing staff of the Fairbanks Tapestry Unit for their superb care, friendship, and support.  A special mention goes to NP Anne Crowell and to the CN-“A” Team led by Carlos Velasquez with Stanley Avril, Nii Telfer, Lauren Pryharski. The work of the  Tapestry Activities staff with residents is a blessing.  In addition, the Salmon VNA Hospice team provided important compassionate support throughout Joe’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease.  Donations in Joe’s name may be made to Friends of the Beaumont Tapestry Neighborhood, 3 Lyman St., Westborough 01581 and/or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

www.westboroughfuneralhome.com