Westborough/Boylston – Denis F. Rafferty, 79, a longtime resident of Boylston, died Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 at Westborough Healthcare Center. He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Juliana (Schamboek) Rafferty, in March 2010.
He leaves four children, Alan D. Rafferty and his wife Barbara Anne of Auburn, Michael J. Rafferty and his companion Virginia of Seattle, Wash., Dennis P. Rafferty of Fitchburg, and Elizabeth Mardirosian and her husband Kevin of Charlton; four grandchildren, Erika, Shelby, Jonah and Isaac; and a sister, Claire Zinkham of Baltimore, Md. A stepdaughter, Anita Coble of Ft. Worth, Txs., predeceased him.
Born and raised on Eden Street in Worcester, the son of Dennis J. and Beatrice E. (McMahon) Rafferty, he graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and later earned a BS in Business Administration from Clark University. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army 82nd Airborne Division.
After his military service, Mr. Rafferty served as an officer for the American Postal Workers Union. He worked for Beacon Construction as comptroller during the construction of the Worcester Center Galleria and later for the Internal Revenue Service as a special agent, retiring in 1974. After retirement, he was a self-employed tax preparer at his business, Tax Time, where he developed one of the first tax preparation programs using VisiCalc on the first Apple computer. He was a member of St. Mary of the Hills Church.
Funeral services and burial in Pine Grove Cemetery are private. Arrangements are under the care of Callahan & Fay Brothers Funeral Home of Worcester.
For online condolences, visit www.callahanfay.com.
