Philip J. Doherty, MD
Philip J. Doherty, who grew up in St. Peter’s Parish in Dorchester and went on to become a popular and highly respected cardiologist at Milton Hospital, died Wednesday at his Milton home.
Dr. Doherty had been suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The eldest of 8 children of Boston Police officer John Joseph Doherty and his wife Mary, Doherty was afflicted with rheumatic fever which left him hospitalized for long stretches of his childhood. This seeming misfortune however, planted in him a lifelong love of reading, mathematics, and ultimately, led him into medicine and cardiology. It would also greatly influence the type of doctor he would become known as, one who was appreciative of the nursing staff and personally attentive to his patients. After graduating from Boston Latin School and then Boston College, Doherty attended Georgetown Medical School. He graduated cum laude in 1963, and as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Society. It was also at Georgetown where he met Patricia Fountain, a nursing student who would become his wife.
After completing his medical residency at Georgetown and his cardiology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, he was invited to join the Medical Center’s full-time faculty as an Assistant Professor of Cardiology. In 1971, now with a family of four children, Dr. Doherty returned to Massachusetts to run the training program at Carney Hospital in Dorchester. He began his own highly successful practice at Milton Hospital in 1977.
Over the next 33 years, Dr. Doherty would serve as Chief of Cardiology and then Chief of Medicine at Milton Hospital, and on the Board of Directors for the hospital. He was a frequent lecturer on issues related to cardiovascular health and received numerous awards for his distinguished service, including the Lira Family Award for Physician Excellence in 2000 and the M. Vassar Pierce M.D. Award Honoring Physician Excellence in 2003.
Throughout his career, Dr. Doherty was known and beloved by his many patients not only for the high quality of care he provided, but for his kindness and accessibility. Dr. Doherty considered his long-time staffers, Virginia Doyle, Donna Ducette, and Natalie Cappelletti, extended family. He was also a favorite of the Milton Hospital nursing staff, with whom he worked very closely. Dr. Doherty greatly valued and respected and the nurses’ contributions to patient care.
While every patient’s problems were treated with the utmost professionalism, it was an open secret that Dr. Doherty showed special concern to any malady that negatively affected a patient’s golf game. He was himself an avid golfer and longtime member of the Wollaston Golf Club.
Despite his professional accomplishments, Dr. Doherty took the greatest pride in his own family. He adored his wife Pat, and was a devoted father to Maureen E. Towle of Hyde Park, Erin A. Daly of Walpole, John P. of Atlanta, GA and James P. Doherty of Knoxville, TN. He treasured any time spent with his sisters and brothers, Mary Cormier of Sandwich, Ellen Platt of CA, Sheila Scannell of Walpole, Jean Neiswand of NJ, Joseph of Billerica, Daniel of Arlington and Thomas Doherty of Pembroke. Dr. Doherty found absolute joy in each of his eleven grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Elizabeth Church, Milton, on Monday, June 13 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours in the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, Milton, on Sunday June 12, 3 – 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Dr. Doherty’s memory to the Milton Hospital Development Fund, Highland Street, Milton, MA 02186.
Guestbook Entries
To the family of Dr. Doherty my sincere sympathy goes out all. Dr. Doherty was not only my physician for over thirty years but a true friend and confidant. He truly cared about his patients and always gave the outmost care and understanding to them. He touched so many lives with his kindness and wonderful personality. I will miss him but know he is at peace now. To Pat and their children, may you find solace in memories and may God see you through this most difficult time. Sincerely, Maureen Smith
I am so sorry for your loss.. I hope that the power of God’s love will comfort you and your family at this difficult time.. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers..
With my deepest sympathy,
Kim Dove
Dr. Doherty was a unique and very special person as well as a dedicated and wonderful physical. He was “our doctor” for my husband and myself for over 40 years………and saw us through many a rough time. I will always be especially grateful to him for his care and support during the last several years of my husband’s life.
To his family I send my prayers and deepest condolances to help you get past this difficult time of loss. The world has lost a great, great man who touched so many lives. Best regards, Razzi
My prayers and sympathy are with you all through this difficult time. May God shed his grace upon you and give you strength.
Dear Doherty Family- I am filled with sadness with the news of Dr. Phil’s passing. I know there is some comfort knowing he is at peace and his suffering has ended. However, I also know the great loss you are experiencing. Dr. Phil was at the top of my list of “favorite Dads”. As sad as this news is to receive, I am still smiling as I think of him and the many memories I have of Dr. Phil and your family. Please know that the thoughts and prayers of all The Mahanors are with you. Yours with a heavy heart,
Sue
To the Doherty Family, Eddie and I send our deepest sympathy to the Doherty Family. Not only was Philip our Doctor and confident, but we also had a closeness because of both families. Fran Vitale and Mae Doherty had been friends from kindergarten .He is with his parents now. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Eddie and Eileen Vitale
Our sincere sympathy goes out to the Doherty family, we feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to know him and will keep all in our thoughts and prayers.
Our love and prayers are with the entire Doherty family. We are grateful to have met such a kind and witty man who made us laugh and so obviously loved and took pride in his family. May your memories comfort you as you grieve your husband, father, grandfather, and friend. God bless you all!
Love, Brad, Shana, Adam, Luke, and Henry Maurer
Pat & Family
We are saddened beyond words.
Phil was a wonderful husband ,father, friend and doctor.
He will be missed.
Our love , thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Bless.
My deepest sympathies to the Family of Dr. Doherty. Not only was he a great Doctor, but a great ‘guy’ I feel honored to have been his patient. He always took a little extra time to talk about life in general and spoke fondly of his family and siblings. A great loss to the community, you and he will be remembered in my prayers.
Please accept my sincere sympathy for your loss. My
husband was a longtime patient and it was always so
comforting to know Dr Doherty was available. He will
be missed for his compassion and care. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Most Sincerely,
Janis Wentzell
We worked directly across the hall from Dr. Doherty for 10 years. He was always so nice, kind, accessible and generous. His patients loved him, as did his staff, and the hospital staff. He made everyone around him feel comfortable and at ease. He adored his family. He was just an all around wonderful person, and a fine physician. It’s hard to imagine Milton Hospital without his smiling presence.
Mrs Doherty and family: Sorry my condolences are so late; I only recently heard of Dr. Doherty’s death. He reminded me on my last visit to his office–when he told me he was retiring and why–that we had had a “24 year relationship”. During this time, I heard about weddings, grandchildren, his childhood and his illnesses, and of course Golf. Again, my sincere condolences on your loss.
Mrs. Doherty and family: I only recently learned of Dr. Doherty’s death, thus my sincere condolences are late. As he reminded me on my last visit in November, we had had a “24 year relationship”. During this time I heard about the golf games, weddings, grandchildren and their growth and development and his childhood. Again, my sincere condolences on his loss.
I just recently learned of Dr. Doherty’s death, and was truly saddened to hear of it.
“To me the ideal doctor would be a man endowed with profound knowledge of life and of the soul, intuitively divining any suffering or disorder of whatever kind, and restoring peace by his mere presence.” ~Henri Amiel
…to me, this was Dr. Doherty…I will miss him dearly. You have my sincere condolences on the loss of your husband, father, grandfather.
I was very saddened this morning to learn of Dr. Doherty’s passing. I was a younger patient of his but have been with him for a very long time. I always loved to go see Dr. Doherty. It never felt like I was going “to the doctor”. It always felt like I was going to visit my grandfather. I loved to hear him tell stories about when he was a boy (we grew up in the same neighborhood). No matter what ailment I had, he had a way of relating some personal to it. While I am sad that he has passed, I am also happy because the Dr. Doherty I knew was always and energetic man and would never have wanted to have to be cared for. One of the funniest things I remember about him was one day when I was coming off the elevator and he was taking the stairs. He just laughed at me and said, “Now aren’t you ashamed?” There was no fooling him. He always had your number. He reminded me of the doctors I had as a child who used to make house calls. He was never too busy to give you the time that you needed. I know you will miss him greatly and I know that he is missing you terribly as well. He was so proud of all of his family and I feel as though I know all of you through his stories. We have all lost a great man and I am glad to have had the chance to know him. My condolences to your family.
I only became aware of Dr. Doherty’s passing today. What his biography above says about his skill and caring is true. I was one of his patients, and miss his wise counsel. The medical profession has lost an excellent physician, and my sympathies go to his family.