Legendary Norwood Football Coach John Doherty Has Died

Former Norwood High football coach John "Duffy" Doherty died April 9, 2013. Doherty coached the Mustangs to Division 1 Super Bowl championships in 1977 and 1980. He is a member of the Massachusetts State High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the Curry College Hall of Fame. 

His son Gary Doherty is Athletic Director and football coach at Framingham High School.

Originally from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Jamaica Plain, John was a devoted family man and husband of the late Ann Kates. John leaves the families of his four children: Christine (Doherty), Jim, Patrick, Danny, Brendan, and Ann Marie Caine of Berwyn, Pa.; John, Rachelle, Hailey and Cole Jardin, and Kyle Doherty of Cincinnati, OH..; Kevin of Washington, D.C., Kevin Jr of Lowell , and Katherine Doherty of Syracuse N.Y.; Gary, Merry, Hayden, Harper and Hannah Doherty of Norfolk. John is survived by his second love, Theresa Monahan from West Roxbury and her family.

John was one of eight born to Barney and Winnie from Buncrana, Ireland and is survived by his siblings and their families, his sister Mary from Foxboro, George and Dottie from Waltham, Bill and Mary from Quincy, Paul and Lorraine from Foxboro, Virginia Doherty, wife of the late Bernard Doherty of Quincy, Paul D'Entremont, husband of the late Sally D'Entremont and his late brother Eddie. John leaves an extended family of beloved football players and coaches to carry on his legacy.

He led his football team at Norwood High School to Division 1 Super Bowl Championships in 1977 and 1980. He is a member of the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame as well as the Curry College Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 13, at 9 a.m. from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St.(Rte  1A), Norwood, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 547 Washington St., Norwood.

Interment will follow the Mass in St. Catherine of Siena Church in Norwood. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Friday, April 12, from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in John's memory to Team IMPACT: a non-profit chartered to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening illnesses. (goteamimpact.org).