Hudson – Joseph W. Hallett, SGM (Ret.), of Hudson, son of Robert A. Hallett and Margaret B. (Williams) Hallett (deceased) of Stoughton, died Thursday, March 20, 2014 at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease. He was 77. He joins his wife, Eleanor Florence Hallett, who died suddenly April 30, 2013.
He is survived by his loving children, Dianna L. Hallett of South Berwick, Maine, Michael W. and Amy J. (Berquist) Hallett of Fayetteville, N.C., and Margaret C. Hallett and Scott W. Gray of Upton, and four beloved grandchildren, Ashley P. Hallett of Hudson, Natasha N. Hallett and Gregory M. Hallett of Fayetteville, N.C., and Joseph W. Hallett II of Raleigh, N.C. He leaves behind a loving sister and brother-in-law, Louie and Mary A. (Hallett) Ugo of Venice, Fla.; an aunt, Therese Katona; a cousin, Kathleen Peck of Brockton; and an extended family and brothers-in-arms across the United States.
As a youngster, Mr. Hallett grew up in Stoughton, enjoying time spent with his sister Mary and brothers Bobby and Jimmy, playing baseball and football, fishing and adventuring in the woods. He attended Saint Mary's Catholic School and Stoughton High School. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Army in 1954, trained as an infantryman and paratrooper, and was stationed in Augsburg Germany. In 1957, he fell in love with and married the beautiful Eleanor Dray of Canton, and began a wonderful life together spanning 56 years of marriage. During that time Joe and Eleanor raised three beautiful children and doted on four beloved grandchildren.
He had a distinguished career in the United States Army. A master paratrooper serving with the 1st, 82nd and 101st Airborne, he was a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he earned numerous medals and commendations including the Bronze Star. He also served with distinction as part of the U.S. Army Expeditionary Forces in Korea, Lebanon, and the Dominican Republic. After his tour in Vietnam, he served at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, United States Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He transferred from Washington to the Natick Research and Development Command in 1972 to be close to his aging parents. He retired from the U.S. Army in September 1976, with great fanfare, after a 23-year military career.
Upon retiring from the U.S. Army, Mr. Hallett began a rewarding career at his alma mater, Northeastern University in Boston. In various positions, including Director of Admissions, he managed the undergraduate admissions process and worked closely with work-study students and ROTC candidates, coaching them in the life skills necessary to succeed. He retired from Northeastern University in April 1996 after 20 years of service.
Throughout his life, Mr. Hallett was a devoted servant of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an altar boy at Saint Mary's Parish, as an altar server in various military assignments, and as an usher at his beloved Saint Michael Parish in Hudson for nearly 40 years.
He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grampy, boss, friend, and paratrooper who enjoyed nurturing and spoiling those in his life. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, March 25, at 9 a.m., in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Military funeral will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Family and friends may attend calling hours on Monday, March 24, from 5 – 8 p.m., at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Hallett's name to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or another charity of your choice.
