WESTFIELD – Joseph F. McGovern, Jr., 77, (1946-2023) of Westfield MA, passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness this past Sunday, October 8th, surrounded by his three daughters. Joe was born at Mercy Hospital in Springfield MA, on Friday, May 24th, 1946, to Joseph and Helen (Cahillane) McGovern. Joe was raised in Westfield and attended Westfield public schools. He graduated with honors from Westfield High School in 1964. He went on to study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in Troy NY, where he earned his PhD in the field of Mechanical Engineering in 1973. It was while he was at RPI that he met Janice, whom he married on September 13th, 1969. He returned to Westfield and worked as a vice president at his parents’ business, Notion Thread Manufacturing Co., in West Springfield MA. On September 6th, 1983, he founded his own business, Numeric, Inc. located on Wayside Avenue, in West Springfield. His business specialized in CNC machining and medical billing. He was extremely hard-working and dedicated to his business, working 6 days a week, and hardly missing a day in 40 years. He worked tirelessly to support his family and his employees, who over the years had become like family to him. He took incredible pride in his family of “girls”. He would tell anyone who would listen about his three daughters and seven granddaughters. Nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed family parties, a nice ride in the car (especially if it was to get donuts or ice cream), and his annual vacation to Ogunquit ME with his family. Most especially in the last 4 plus years, nothing made him happier than hanging out with his adored puppy Lucy, with a tin of popcorn by his side. We will truly miss his quick wit and even his bad “dad jokes and grampie-isms”. We all knew if you missed the jokes the first time, he was not afraid to “repeat” them over and over.
Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Helen McGovern, his brother Robert and sister-in-law Kathleen McGovern.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janice (Cronk) McGovern, his three daughters; Julie Olearcek and her husband Patrick, of Westfield; Jenny Frombach and her husband Christopher, of West Hartford CT; and Jill Bascomb and her husband Christopher, of Florence MA. Joe also leaves his 7 granddaughters, Caitlyn and Erin Olearcek, Emma and Courtney Frombach, and Amelia, Ainsley and Adeline Bascomb. Joe leaves his sister Mary Ellen Walachy and her husband Michael, of Westfield, his brother Hubert and his wife Patricia, of Westfield, and his sister-in-law Judy, of Rochester NY. In addition, Joe leaves many nieces, nephews, dear friends, and employees.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Joe’s name to the Baystate Health Foundation (Home Health and Hospice), 280 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199, or to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org.
Calling hours will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 15th at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad Street, Westfield, MA. Funeral Services will be Monday, October 16th, at 9 a.m. at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, with Mass at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church (127 Holyoke Rd, Westfield, MA), followed by burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Southampton Road in Westfield, MA. www.firtionadams.com
