ANDOVER — James D. Doherty, an Andover institution known for the love he showed toward his family, town and church, died Wednesday. He was 94.
He was known as "Mr. Moderator" after being elected to that office from 1977 to 2006.
"He was a great dad," said his son, James "Jay" Doherty, last night. "Family was always first. He led by example. His faith was second without question, then the town of Andover."
Although Doherty was involved in politics as chairman of the Democratic Town Committee and moderator of Town Meetings, Jay Doherty said his father was always there for him and his sisters.
"I can't remember him missing one of my basketball or baseball games or one of my sisters' recitals," the younger Doherty said. "He would be there sitting in the same spot."
Last week, the meeting hall at the Old Town Hall was named in his honor.
"When I told him, he just kind of smirked, and said, 'Why did they do that?' He never did it for recognition," his son said.
Doherty said his father never really stopped working, even when he recently became ill and housebound. Selectmen and town officers would stop by the house and his father wanted to know was going on.
It was his dedication for the town of Andover for which most of his colleagues will remember him.
"He was a mentor to all of us in town government," said Town Manager Reginald "Buzz" Stapczynski.
"He was a teacher and provided us with a world of insight and guidance on how town government should run."
Stapczynski and other town leaders said Doherty's best qualities included his high ethical standards, integrity and treating everyone fairly.
"He was truly the kind of man that was the town moderator because he won it by election. It was the public way of doing it," Stapczynski said.
"He understood that government was about doing the will of the people and gave me great insight of the expectation of the people of Andover."
"I lost a tremendous role model, confidant and friend."
Stapczynski recalled that when preparing for Town Meeting, Doherty would meticulously go over every warrant article and tell selectmen what he knew about the issue and what he had heard from residents about it.
Town Clerk Randy Hanson also has fond memories of working with Doherty.
"Mr. Doherty was a wonderful man. He was so influential in my life for so long. A sad time when I found out he had passed," Hanson said.
"He was a great mentor. I was new at the job and did not have a lot of resources. He took me under his wings, gave me the information I needed for my job."
Hanson has been town clerk for 19 years and said she learned many lessons from Doherty while preparing for Town Meeting or elections.
She remembered one election in the 1990s when there was a recount and while the town had switched to voting machines, the votes had to be counted by hand.
"Mr. Doherty stepped right in, showed us how to proceed until we figure out the whole recount and saved the day," Hanson said.
"He was extremely important to me. I could never, never thank him enough for everything he did for me. I could not have asked for a better friend, better person to work with."
"He loved the town so much he could never do enough. All you had to do was just ask. Sometimes, he would sense it and offered his help. He wanted nothing but the best for the town and it showed every day," Hanson said.
Alexander Vispoli went looking for his advice when he decided to run for office in 2004.
"I don't think there's any one who has run for office in the last 40 or 50 years who has not sought his advice," Vispoli said.
"When you were siting across the table from him, it was like siting with a giant. He would listen and ask a lot of questions."
"He was a very unique person. It's going to be impossible to replace someone like him," Vispoli said.
He is also survived by his wife of 60 years, Sheila, and four daughters. Calling hours are Monday from 3 to 8 p.m. at St. Augustine's Church with the funeral to be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the church.
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