Joseph J. DuBois

Joseph J. DuBois, 77, of McLean, Virginia, found peace December 12, 2019, in the presence of his family. He bravely faced the effects that Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia had on him, making the best of every possible experience.

Joe was born January 27, 1942, in Adams, Massachusetts. His parents, Joe and Irene, were thrilled to be able to send him to Boston College, from where he graduated in 1963 and 1965 with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Mathematics. On August 21, 1965, he married his high school sweetheart Joan (Brodalski), and they relocated to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Lehigh University in 1968. He worked for several years as a statistician at the Center for Naval Analysis in Arlington before starting a 34 year career at the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, from which he retired in 2009 as the Director of the Office of Statistical Analysis. Joe and Joan settled in McLean in 1970, and have lived in the same home since.

Joe was active in his community, where he served as president of the McLean Babe Ruth League and school PTAs, and coached soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball. He was an excellent cook, self-taught, and loved to try out new culinary gadgets whenever he could, even learning how to make and stuff his own sausage from scratch. He cooked the perfect steak and made delicious homemade ice cream. Joe had a passion for photography and cameras, which he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He was an avid fan of B.C. and UVA sports. He knew how to find the quickest route to any destination, navigate busy city streets, and somehow find a place to park in D.C. anywhere anytime. Joe loved a good fireworks display, and his family enjoyed seeing him light a few off at Myrtle Beach during the 30 year tradition of beachfront fun that he helped establish and treasured.

In retirement, Joe enjoyed traveling the globe, visiting with his grandkids, and picking up a good deal on Bass shoes or watches at the outlets. He and Joan visited the Galapagos Islands, Alaska, the Mediteranean, Africa, China, Germany, Poland, and many National Parks. He stood on the Equator and on a glacier in Canada, cooked with international chefs, rode a gondola in Venice, and walked on the Great Wall of China. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Hawaii with their family.

Joe is survived by his wife Joan of 54 years, daughter Karen Kelly and husband Patrick, son James DuBois and wife Lori, grandsons Brendan and Benjamin Kelly, granddaughters Katherine and Alexandra DuBois, sister Beverly Sherman, dear friend Samuel Parkins, and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors at Murphy Funeral Home in Falls Church on December 18, 3:00-5:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. A funeral Mass will be held December 19 at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church in McLean, followed by interment at Fairfax Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area (PFNCA) or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA).