Joseph Boro

After decades of overcoming the challenges of heart disease and other conditions, “Joey, Joe, Joseph E, Dad, Papa and/or Uncle Billy Buck” Boro passed away at his home in South Chatham, June 23, 2025. In recent months, he was blessed to have been visited by many of his closest friends, and his family was by his side during his final days.
Joe was born October 14, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York. Not the “model” child, he had tattoos in his early teens, left school and joined the Navy as soon as it was possible. He married and his two children, Joe and Donna were born. He proudly served for ten years and was grateful for all the opportunities and lessons his Navy service provided.
His honorable discharge from the Navy afforded him the chance to get an education. He loved being an “older student” and was very proud of obtaining a master’s degree in public administration and criminal justice from Southern Methodist University in Texas.
Joe worked for state and local governments in Texas, New York, and Arizona, but his “career” began when he was hired by a national, not-for-profit agency which provided social services to local communities. Joe served as CEO for Volunteers of America, Dallas/Fort Worth and for VOA Chesapeake and then was named Executive Vice President for the national office of the organization. His early retirement was forced due to medical issues.
While working for VOA, Joe met and married Barbara Noone Gibbons. They lived outside of Annapolis where Joe spent many hours mentoring midshipmen and women at the Naval Academy, an experience they both treasured. After retirement, Barbara and Joe traveled, “snowbirded” in Estero, Florida, and finally settled down in South Chatham.
Joe was a recreational sailor and a voracious reader of history (especially military history). He thoroughly enjoyed “projects” in his workshop and made sure that every home he had was “wired for sound.” His wry sense of humor was legendary.
Joe was also deeply committed to social justice and a proud defender of our country. Joe’s beliefs were strong, and sometimes strongly expressed, but he was always a generous provider of comfort and compassion to anyone in need.
Joe is survived by his wife Barbara, his sister Marjorie, his son Joe and his wife Ina, his daughter Donna Bailey and her husband Joe, grandson Joey (yes there are a lot of Joes!), loads of nieces, nephews and their families and special friends who were like family. He was preceded in death by his sisters Carolyn and Barbara and by his brother Tom.
Joe’s family gratefully thank Pastor Heidi Champagne and the members of the First Congregational Church of Harwich for their comfort and support over the past few months as well as Joe’s team from Broad Reach Hospice and Compass Points Home Health Care and Dr. Ton and her team at Mass General. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held in October.
The family wish is that any remembrances, in lieu of flowers, be made by committing an act of kindness to someone in need.
Notes of comfort may be made to Joe’s family at www.chapmanfuneral.com