HEGARTY, Major General Joseph P. (LTG-MA), 94, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Duxbury, MA, passed away on January 9, 2019; adored husband of Catherine (Hagerty), loving father of Brian (Gema) of Worcester, Ann of Braintree, Thomas of Weymouth, Mark (Lori) of Springvale, ME, John (Christine) of Weymouth, and the late Paul Hegarty. Dear brother of James "Bill" Hegarty (Brenda) of Yarmouthport, Natalie Flaherty (Robert) of Attleboro , and Patricia Leone of Taunton; proud grandfather of Evan Hegarty and Jeffrey Hegarty, Joseph Hegarty (Victoria) and Katelyn (Evan) Gray of Sanford, ME, Peter of Winter Haven, FL, Michael and Patrick Hegarty, and Blake and Owen Karzmarski of Branford, CT. Great-grandfather of Jaxson of CT. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends. Brother of the late Mary Cedrone, Eleanor Williams, Rita Rose, John Hegarty, and Marguerite Hamilton.

Retired Senior Vice President and Counsel, Alliance of American Insurers.

Former Commander of the 26th (YANKEE) Infantry Division, Massachusetts Army National Guard, where his motto was "Pursuit of Excellence".

General Hegarty first enlisted in the Mass Army National Guard in 1939, at the tender age of 15 years, became a sergeant and sharpshooter before he was released from duty in 1941 due to age minority. Joe than went on to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, serving in Marshfield, VT, where he learned to be a bulldozer operator and dynamiter. As the CCC wound down in August, 1941, Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and went on active duty in the Southwest Pacific in the first offensive operation against the Japanese at Guadalcanal, and subsequent operations in New Guinea, New Britain, and Okinawa. He was released from active duty in November, 1945, returned home where he attended and graduated from Suffolk University and its law school. In 1962, he rejoined the Massachusetts Army National Guard, rising through the ranks to a Federally recognized Major General.

Decorations and Awards: U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Naval Unit Citation Cape Gloucester, New Britain; Presidential Unit Citation (USN) Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, New Britain; Okinawa; USMC Good Conduct Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal.

Atty. Hegarty was an alumni of Suffolk University and Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA. He was a member of American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, and Plymouth County Bar Association.

Gen. Hegarty was also a member of the First Marine Division Association, National Guard Association of Massachusetts, Veterans Association First Corps of Cadets, Boston, Senior Life Member; Ancient and Honorable Artillery Association of Massachusetts, Association of the U.S. Army, and Military Officers Association of America. Alumni of the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, PA and Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

An honorable man who will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA. Immediate family will gather at the funeral home on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. for the funeral procession. Relatives and friends please proceed directly to the Holy Family Church, 601 Tremont Street in Duxbury, for the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment with full Military Honors will be in the Mayflower Cemetery, 774 Tremont Street, Duxbury MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe's memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

For online guest book, driving directions, and other helpful information, please visit the website macdonaldfuneralhome.com