Obituary of Joseph Q. Guccione

Joseph Q. Guccione, 62, of Duxbury, died at home on November third of complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The son of Geraldine Mendenhall Guccione and the late Quentin Guccione, DDS of Needham, Joe was a graduate of Bentley University with a degree in accounting. He leaves a legacy of nearly forty years in fund accounting and financial management for independent schools. Joe’s early career included positions with the Massachusetts Division of the American Heart Association and its Boston Chapter; Family Services of Greater Boston; The United Way of Mass Bay and eventually Cardinal Cushing Industries of Hanover, one of the largest special needs organizations in New England. In l993 the family became Duxbury summer residents when Joe was appointed Director of Finance and Operations for the Winchester Thurston School in Pittsburgh, a position he subsequently held at The Kent Place School, Summit New Jersey, beginning in 1997. He came full circle and returned to Boston as Chief Financial Officer for The Winsor School until his illness forced an early retirement in 2008. He was a board member of the National Business Officers Association and member of the Bentley University Executive Club. Joe was an avid sportsman and community volunteer. In the mid-seventies he spent weekends as a skydiving Jumpmaster/instructor at Parachutes Inc., Orange, MA. While chairman of the Duxbury Yacht Club’s Waterfront Committee and New England Optimist Dinghy Association, he and his wife were instrumental in introducing the boats to Duxbury and organizing the town’s first New England Opti regatta. During his tenure at Winchester Thurston he rowed competitively with the Masters Division of Three Rivers Rowing Association, served as a member of its broad of directors and assisted the school’s rowing program. Whether clamming, fishing, sailing or walking the beach, Joe was most at home on the water. During the two years of his illness he found refuge and solace in his beloved Duxbury Bay. Additional volunteer work includes the US Rowing Association; the Catboat Association; Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, Duxbury Art Association, The Art Complex Museum and St. John’s Episcopal Church. He leaves his wife Leslie Davis Guccione; his sons Christopher J. and wife Lisa (McCauley) of Holliston, Taylor N. of Duxbury and Mammoth Lakes, CA; his daughter Amy MacMillan and husband Robert of Newport, RI., and four grandchildren. He was also the brother of Rosemarie Winters of Central, SC, Karen Czubik of Franklin and Gary A. Guccione of Millis. In hopes that he could further research and understanding of ALS, he donated his brain tissue and spinal cord to the Brain Tissue Center of Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. A memorial service will be held at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, Duxbury, on November 10. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his name to The Town of Duxbury’s King Caesar Fund for medical emergency financial assistance; the ALS Association, MA chapter; or Cranberry Hospice of Jordan Hospital