Joseph Robert McHugh

Watertown native Joe McHugh passed away at 96 after a brief illness.  He was born at home on Fayette Street in 1920, the second child of Bernard S. and Helen (Chiasson) McHugh.  He graduated cum laude from Watertown High in 1938 and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1942.  He volunteered for military service in WWII, serving in the Army's Chemical Warfare Division. 

Upon the sudden death of his father in 1949 he took over the family business, W.J. Grosvenor & Company of Somerville.  Under his direction, the company became a leading New England supplier of floor covering supplies and accessories.  He retired from Grosvenor in 1994.  In 1950, Joe married Elizabeth Mary Clark of Newton, Mass.  Betty passed away in 1987. 

Joe was a long-time member of the Watertown Elks Lodge 1513, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1105, Knights of Columbus Council 155 and the American Legion.  He was a life-long resident of Watertown before entering assisted living in 2012. 

He leaves his daughter Anne of Jamaica Plain, son Bernie of Wilson, Wyoming, granddaughter Libby Shrobe of Brighton and sister Helen Messick of Grass Valley, California. 

Services and interment will be private.  The family requests that no flowers or donations be sent.

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