Joseph E. Corcoran
Joseph E. Corcoran passed away on June 3, 2020 peacefully in the company of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchild at his home in Milton. He was 84.
Since founding Corcoran Jennison in 1971, he built and managed 20,000+ housing units and thousands of acres of real estate, including housing, hospitality, office, retail and mixed-use projects in more than 15 states. A pioneer in advancing the concept of mixed-income housing and converting troubled public housing projects into successful communities, he led the partnership that transformed Dorchester’s Columbia Point into Harbor Point, a community that became a national model for the federal government’s HOPE VI program. In 1994, he founded The American City Coalition to advocate for innovation in urban revitalization. In addition to housing, Mr. Corcoran developed and owned Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club on Cape Cod, and CJ Hospitality continues to manage the property.
A 1959 graduate of Boston College and former board member, Mr. Corcoran created the Joseph E. Corcoran Center for Real Estate and Urban Action at the Carroll School of Business at Boston College in 2014 to educate and inspire the next generation of professionals to use real estate as a catalyst for turning struggling neighborhoods into stable, flourishing communities. He is recognized for his abundant philanthropic pursuits and leadership positions with many organizations, including with the Boston Foundation, the YMCA of Greater Boston, Boston College, Boston College High School, the American Ireland Fund, the Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Urban Land Institute, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester and St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children in Dorchester.
Joe was predeceased by his wife, the former Rosemarie Gildea of Dorchester and is survived by his sister Frances Richer of Milton. He is also survived by his children, Joseph J. Corcoran, and Gayle (Donovan) Corcoran of Milton; Suzanne Corcoran Early and Dennis J. Early of Alexandria, VA; Michael J. Corcoran and Linda (Donovan) Corcoran; Tricia (Corcoran) Chapple and Paul Chapple of Milton, MA; Kathryn Corcoran and Russell Deane of Quincy, MA; Sean Gildea Corcoran and his partner Alisa Kasmer of Los Angeles, CA; and Patrick Corcoran of Arlington, MA. Joe leaves 16 grandchildren; Rosemarie Corcoran; Jennifer Corcoran; Joseph Corcoran; Olivia Corcoran; Owen Corcoran Early; Cole Joseph Early; Mari Corcoran Egan; Kayla Corcoran; Michael Corcoran; Rachel Corcoran; Aiden Corcoran; Samantha Chapple; Nicola Chapple; Mickey Chapple; Kelly Chapple; and Charles Deane. He also has one great-grandchild, Alexis Egan.
Cause of death was congestive heart failure. Funeral services will be private.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester give.bgcdorchester.org or St. Mary’s Center stmaryscenterma.org/donate-now
Guestbook Entries
My deepest condolences to the Corcoran family. I was one of Joe’s classmates at BC High School Class of ’53 and later caught up with him again at BC after we both served in the military. Joe’s contributions to BC High and BC will be part of his legacy of doing good for others. I will miss seeing Joe at our BC High Class lunches.
Tom Cunnally
We remember Joe as a lovely man.John worked with him when John worked for Ray Flynn and then they worked together on several development projects as well.Our favorite story about him,which described how down to earth he was,was one time while having dinner with him we talked about spicy foods.We said our mom only used salt and pepper and he said “your mother used pepper”. Anne and John Connolly
To the family of Joe Corcoran,
I was saddened to read of Joe’s untimely passing .I would like to express my sympathy to Joe’s family. I had the pleasure to work with Joe as counsel to him on family matters prior to my retirement and we developed a very close relationship personally and professionally.As you know he was a very special person devoted to his wonderful family and the many causes that he championed,You have every reason to be proud of the heritage that he left for you.
Sincerely. Gordon Ehrlich
Joe was a great listener and always made anyone he talked to feel like what they were saying was important. He was one of those people who brightened the day! We will miss him. God Bless.
I was honored to work with Joe as an employee of Corcoran Jennison during the construction of Merck Research Laboratories-Boston. My sympathy to the Corcoran Family.
Ginni Trainor
To the Corcoran family –
I’m the guy that co-authored the book on Jimmy Cotter which wouldn’t have happened without the kind generosity and support
of Joe Corcoran.
Despite all his accomplishments, he never lost track of the lessons of his Dorchester roots (i grew up on Romsey Street next to Murphy’s Funeral Home) which were his bedrock foundation as a person, as well as the way he viewed the world. I know it’s a cliche, but he could spot a phony from a mile away.
I am forever grateful for his support, and was fortunate to spend a
small amount of time in his company.
Simply a great guy, which in today’s world speaks volumes!!
Again my sincere condolences – Paul Kenney
Joe was a lovely man, a true Irish gentleman. My only consolation is that he is now with “his Rose”.
My condolences to the Corcoran family.
Leslie King Grenier
To the Corcoran Family, we are so sorry and heartbroken to hear of the passing of your father, father-in-law, grandfather and great grandfather. When I heard of his passing, I thought of the following passage “When you did it to the least of my brothers and sisters you did it to me, enter the Kingdom of God”. God love him. Tom & Theresa
To all of Joe’s family, and to those with whom I worked, including Joe J., Mike, and Sue, my deepest condolences. Joe was a good man who defined leadership and integrity by personal example and with a deep sense of understanding. A strong intellect, he was keenly aware of his surroundings and environment, and was a major contributor to his family, business, and community. He will be missed.
Suzi & Dennis,
May our condolences bring you comfort and may our prayers ease the pain of this loss. Suzi, your dad was a wonderful man with a long history of helping others. He will be missed.
Richard & Lucia Pepi
The Corcorans were to real estate what Hoods was to milk. May Joes soul rest in peace. My sympathy to his family.
It was truly a pleasure to know and work with Joe for so many years.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Judi
Dear Corcoran family,
Joe was simply a wonderful man. He made the world a better place and was always proud to be from Dorchester.
I always enjoyed our too infrequent interactions for he always had something worthwhile to impart.
He ,as all of you ,will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Dan Pokaski
My deepest sympathies to all the Corcoran family on the death of Joe. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Sean Coneran, Ballymoe, Co. Galway, Ireland.
I did not know Joe for very long but it was long enough to learn what a decent and generous man he was. May he rest in peace. My condolences to the Corcoran family.
Sincerely,
Barry Randall
Dear Members of the Corcoran Family,
The staff and students at Boston Higashi School extend our heartfelt condolences to all of you on the passing of your beloved father. We are grateful for all that Joe did for our school and he shall never be forgotten. Our hearts are with you during this sad time.
Your Friends at the Boston Higashi School
It was heartbreaking to hear of Joe’s passing. It was a pleasure to work for him for the past 24 years. He will be greatly missed. Sincerest condolences.
Every time I open the Boston Globe in the last 2-3 days, I see Joe, with the familiar smile we both used to have, smiling at each other.
Through BC High, Boston College and all the Jesuit Classic Classes, we always had the Irish smile and laugh together and I’m sure Joe is relaxed and smiling now.
Best wishes to your family.
– Frank Keohane and Family
Joe Corcoran made me proud to be a Jesuit at Boston College where this fine man and so many others in his family were educated. At the annual dinner and breakfast that we shared, he educated me about Boston, the Irish and his mission in housing. He shared his memoir with me–“Wasn’t That a Time!”–and I feel very privileged that he welcomed me to share some of that wonderful time with him. My prayers are with him and his family. May he rest in peace!
James Bernauer, S.J., Boston College
To the Corcoran Family,
Our sincere condolences on the passing of Joe. He was a great man and I knew him well. He will be sorely missed.
Gerard Adomunes formerly of Gerard’s restaurant
Our loving thoughts and prayers are with the Corcoran family. Mr Corcoran was a great man, good guy & a friend to all. Warmest regards, Ray & Karen Dewhirst Family
To the Corcoran Family,
On behalf of the Lojek family, we extend our deepest sympathy on the passing of our Uncle Joe Corcoran. Joe’s and the Corcoran Family’s impact were felt at BC High (Mike’s Class of ’68) and at Boston College (Mike’s Class of ’72). Joe’s impact was felt as a result of his generosity and hard work. May he rest in peace.
Rose, was my first cousin and every Christmas I would get a picture of your beautiful family as it grew each year with more children and grandchildren. God bless you all. And we were so proud of Joe for all he did for Boston and BC… a good and generous man. I will offer Mass for him today and ask him and Rose to continue to bless all of us now as they did when they were here with us. Tom Travers, CSsR