Joseph B. Tondorf

Joe attended Hingham Public Schools and graduated from UMASS Amherst where he was a member of the Beta Kappa Phi fraternity. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Mary Tondorf of Hingham, Massachusetts.

Joe was the ultimate family man, whose greatest joy in life was the people he loved. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, he dedicated his life to serving others, both at home and throughout his career.

Joe spent many years as a teacher and administrator with Boston Public Schools. In the mid 80s, he became the Chief Operating Officer at Brandon Residential Treatment Center, where he continued his lifelong mission of supporting adolescents with specialized educational and residential needs.

Outside of his professional life, Joe was a pillar of the Scituate community. He devoted countless hours to Scituate Youth Athletics, coaching basketball and baseball and helping establish the Girls Youth Travel Basketball program. He enthusiastically supported his children's and grandchildren's participation in basketball, soccer, football, lacrosse, and countless other activities. As his family grew, so did his role as their biggest fan. He rarely missed a game, recital, concert, culinary event, or performance, taking immense pride in cheering on his children and grandchildren in every one of their pursuits.

Joe was an outdoorsman at heart. He loved skiing, sailing with friends, kayaking in Vinalhaven, Maine, and running. At age 48, he achieved the remarkable accomplishment of completing the 100th Boston Marathon. In later years, he found great joy on the fairways of Widows Walk Golf Course, where he played several rounds each week for nearly 25 years. Even after Parkinson's disease forced him to set aside his golf clubs, his resilience, optimism, and love for spending time with his family never wavered.

In 1983, Joe and his sailing buddy, Ken, "discovered" the island of Vinalhaven, Maine. What began as a sailing adventure soon became one of the great pleasures of his life. Every summer thereafter, Joe and his family returned to the simple little cabin by the water. Where days were spent enjoying the simple pleasures of life together.

Joe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kerry (Kathline Meyer) Tondorf; and his four children: Matthew, his wife Deana, and their children, Abigail and Benjamin Tondorf; Kara and her sons, Harlan and Crosby Tondorf; Michael and his twin children, Brody and Harper Tondorf; and Juliana, her husband Conor, and their children, Boden, Marlowe, and Finnbar O'Brien, all of whom reside in Scituate and brought him immeasurable joy. Joe is also survived by his sister, Mary Tondorf-Dick, her husband Gary of Hingham; his brothers in laws Ted and Chris Meyer as well as nieces and nephews, Daniel, David, Jillian, Jonathan, Lynn, Christian, and Eric. He also leaves many cousins and lifelong friends.

Joe's legacy of patience, kindness, service, dedication, and unconditional love for his family will live on in the many lives he touched. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brandon Residential Treatment Center, where Joe dedicated so much of his life to serving others and whose mission remained close to his heart.

https://brandonschool.org/donate/