H. Alfred Yonce

Al was born March 22, 1928 in Washington DC, son of William Harvey and Marie Delvina (Langlais) Yonce.

He graduated from Western High School in Washington DC, the University of Maryland, and Georgetown Law, and served with the US Marine Corps in WWII and the US Navy during the Korean War. While flying PBYs to Bermuda, he met the love of his life Joan Catherine Tassi after a blind date with Joan’s roommate, and married Joan in 1954.

Al and Joan fell in love with Cape Cod while on their honeymoon and moved to Orleans to raise eight children. With Joan’s support in the office and at home, Al practiced law for more than 50 years at Richards & Yonce, and Yonce & Yonce.

To this date it is not unusual for his former clients to self-identify to his family with gratitude for how he helped in times of need.

Al and Joan were passionate about the performing arts; with others in the community, they co-founded the Academy of Performing Arts, acting, directing, and designing there, and with the Highlanders, Cape Rep Theater, and Harwich Junior Theater.

After Joan passed in 2003, Al took up her paints to carry on her visual arts legacy, leading to a 2008 show at Gallery 31 in Orleans. He kept a canvas on the easel for the rest of his life.

Al was involved in many community organizations, including the Board of Trade, the Orleans Yacht Club, and the Orleans senior center, where he often supported “seniors” who were decades younger than he was! He could also be found sailing catboats on Pleasant Bay, marshaling at Ocean Edge Golf Course in Brewster, or serving deli meats at Friends Marketplace in Orleans.

He was devoted to his faith, helping build St. Joan of Arc parish, raising funds for the current church building, and serving as a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, lay Eucharist server, and volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul.

Throughout his marriage to Joan, and beyond, he loved live music and dancing in venues across Cape Cod, or in the streets of his second home Boqueron, Puerto Rico.

He is survived by children William, of Dennis, Daniel of Orleans, Thomas of Yarmouth Port, John of Scituate, and Mary (Gainey) of Brewster, 23 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Predeceased by his wife Joan, children Michael, Matthew, and Eileen (Burke), and brothers William and Phillip.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday Nov. 22 at St. Joan of Arc in Orleans. Donations in his memory may be made to the National MS Society.