Hamilton Doherty, Jr

Chip Doherty slipped away peacefully at home on Saturday evening, November 16, 2024, surrounded with laughter and memories being shared by his family nearby. He was a determined and kind man, both in his entire life and as he approached its end.
Born Hamilton Doherty, Jr. in Buffalo on November 20, 1945, to Hamilton Doherty and Betty McCausland, Chip grew up in Albion, New York. He had fond memories of attending the Eagle Harbor two-room school through the fourth grade, tutoring the younger students in his classroom. He graduated from Albion High School and Amherst College, where he fell in love with New England. There he also met Karen on a blind date, and they were married in 1966.
After Amherst graduation in 1967, Chip attended Columbia Law School for one year before graduate school deferments were unexpectedly eliminated. As he and most of his classmates were in line to be drafted, Chip elected instead to volunteer for the U.S. Army as an enlisted person, serving three years in military intelligence. At the height of the Vietnam war, he was assigned to Wuerzburg, Germany. He and Karen were blessed to spend more than two years there, making many wonderful friends, both American and German, traveling Europe on a shoestring, and welcoming their first son, Tim. After honorable discharge he returned to law school, along with many of his former classmates who had also just returned from military service.
With his heart still back in New England, Chip joined the law firm of Bulkley Richardson in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1973, retiring in 2016 to enjoy full-time life on Cape Cod. A third-generation lawyer, his practice included working with hospitals, colleges, and local non-profit organizations. He was sometimes jokingly referred to as the firm’s pro-bono partner, and he was deeply appreciative of the support of his partners in his general practice. He was clerk of the Colony Club for longer than anyone can remember. He served on the board of Friends of the Homeless, and on the Community Council of the United Way, visiting sites and reviewing operations for grant funding applications.
Chip’s most meaningful professional endeavors were in service to the community. He served as Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts for more than thirty-five years, mastering the complexities of Canon Law, being a trusted advisor to five bishops and sharing his wisdom and compassion with countless clergy and congregations. He was highly respected by his peers through his involvement in the Episcopal Bishops and Chancellors network of New England.
For many years, Chip was also chief legal counsel for labor relations for Square One (formerly Springfield Day Nursery), an early childhood education center in the city. In that capacity he contributed to making a difference in the lives of the children and families they served. He was unflappable even in the most difficult and tense situations. He will be remembered as an accomplished lawyer and a gentleman, treating everyone with dignity and respect.
After growing up in western New York, Chip fell in love with the ocean and Cape Cod, and taught himself to sail in his typical, methodical way. He and Karen vacationed there for over twenty years before buying a home near the bay. Everyone was amused by what he referred to as his “fleet,” a collection that included two very small sailboats, a windsurfer, a kayak, a canoe, and more. For more than fifty years, the Cape was the favorite gathering place for family and friends, and his days on the beach and sailing on the bay were among the most joyful of his life.
Chip and Karen recently moved to Minnesota to live near their youngest son Ben, his wife Erin Johnson, and daughter Allia. Chip’s heart was broken by the death of eldest son Tim in 2021. Chip is also survived by Tim’s daughters Sarah and Emily, son Chris (his wife Honor and their son John), brothers Kevin (Linda) and Stephen (Heidi), and their wonderful and wide-ranging families.
A celebration of life will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Springfield, on December 6., 2024, at 11 am. Interment will be on the Cape at a later date.
Donations in Chip’s memory may be made to The Family Pantry of Cape Cod, the Lower Cape Outreach Council, or the charity of one’s choice.
www.northfieldfuneral.com