Joseph "Chic" Chiccarelli, beloved husband of the late Gloria Carpenter Chiccarelli and devoted father of Caroline M. Chiccarelli, died peacefully on February 11, 2018, after a short illness.

Chic entered Boston College in 1943 but by 1945 was drafted into the Army. The Army first sent him to the University of Maine and then to Fort Belvoir in Virginia, where he studied engineering, became a sergeant/instructor and began his teaching career. In 1946, he returned to BC, studying mathematics under noted Swiss mathematician, Dr. Hans Haefeli. Later, while pursuing his Master's degree, Chic became Dr. Haefeli's assistant. They developed a deep friendship; Dr. Haefeli served as best man at Chic's wedding and later as godfather to his daughter.

Chic's education and teaching career brought him to many places including Rome, Italy and several colleges in the US. He made close connections with colleagues at over a dozen other colleges, but it all started in 1950 with a last-minute freshman mathematics assignment at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.  Wanting to increase his knowledge of mathematics, he applied for a Fulbright scholarship, which brought him to the University of Rome for two years. While there, his daughter was born. Learning advanced mathematics in Italian was a challenge for Chic, but he persevered and found success. Following his time in Rome, he took a position in the mathematics department at Fordham University, where he taught for eight wonderful years. While living in the Bronx, Chic started writing and editing his Dataguides , which were a synopses of various branches of mathematics.

A close friend from Boston College, Rev. Eiardi, told him of a position at Stonehill College in Easton. Chic was happy for the opportunity to return home and he settled his family in nearby Brockton. By 1964, Chic had an offer to work at Bridgewater State College, now Bridgewater State University, where he became the chairman of the mathematics department. Eventually, he worked at Bridgewater State College as Director of Continuing Education, Dean of Administrative Services, Dean of Administration, and Vice President of Finance and Administration, serving at BSC for a total of 28 rewarding years.

By 1992, Chic had officially retired, but that did not stop him from teaching. For 15 years, he volunteered as a Calculus A/B tutor at Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton. For an additional three years, he assisted the chair of the Scituate High School mathematics department in his Calculus B/C courses.

Joseph Chiccarelli leaves behind countless students who remember him with great fondness. He had a passion for mathematics, for teaching, and for people. His warm smiles, encouragement, and love of his subject were infectious. For many years, he and a group of his students would meet for breakfast and to talk math. In later years, he and his wife moved to Scituate and then Marshfield where he continued to develop new friendships.

Most importantly, Chic had a deep faith in God, which guided his life. He had a special devotion to Padre Pio, which he did not hesitate to share.

He is survived by his daughter Caroline, and his sister Natalie Procopio and her husband, Frank of Tewksbury, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Biggi and Maria Chiccarelli, and a brother Fortunato Chiccarelli.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street (Rte. 139) Marshfield. Funeral procession from the funeral home on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. to St. Christine's Church, 1295 Main Street, Marshfield for a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Burial with Military Honors will be in Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline.

Donations in Joseph's memory can be made to Catholic TV, P.O. Box 9196, Watertown MA 02471.

For online guestbook and driving directions, please visit our website macdonaldfuneralhome.com