Joseph H. Newcomb

NEWCOMB, Joseph H. – Joe Newcomb of Nashua died peacefully on May 5, 2022 with his loving wife Christina (Palese) (Cegalis) Newcomb at his side. A good friend to all, he will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered.

Joe was born in Quincy Massachusetts on June 8, 1931 as the youngest of three sons to Joseph and Lillian (Frederickson) Newcomb. Lil would often comment about losing a batch of beer that she was brewing when she went in to labor with Joe. When Joe Sr. died in a boating accident while Joe was a year old, Lil raised the three boys, Richard, Ken, and Joe in Auburndale. They all made friends that lasted a lifetime, and they would tell stories of their teenage antics in the railyards and Norumbega Park.

Joe served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve during the Korean Conflict doing two tours of duty as an Electrician’s Mate Fireman aboard the Destroyer USS Owens. Joe was extremely proud of his naval service and attended ship reunions well into his 70’s and was usually seen wearing his USS Owens hat. Following his Honorable Discharge, Joe work at Raytheon for almost forty years; starting as an electrician and served as union steward before being promoted to Foreman. Joe enjoyed playing pranks on his co-workers which earned him the nickname Sneaky.

Joe and his first wife, the late Ann Elizabeth (Shea) Newcomb, started their family in Waltham, before settling in Chelmsford where they raised four children, Jim, Dan, Jo-Ann, and Tom. Each year saw Joe doing a new project on the home, and they loved to entertain there; regularly hosting cookouts, holiday parties, and nights of playing bridge. Later, Joe and Ann moved to Nashua where Joe eventually retired and started new chapters in his life.

Staying fit and active were very important to Joe, and in 1998 he noticed a woman that regularly swam at the same pool as him. Joe and Christina quickly became inseparable, fell deeply in love, and started what they both called the best part of their lives. They loved to travel, especially to Wolfeboro and Myrtle Beach where they would swim and take long walks on the beach.

Joe often said that when he retired he had no grandchildren, but he eventually had five, Andrew, Emily, Jack, Jeremy, and Emma. One of the saddest times of Joe’s life was the loss of his son Dan to cancer in 2004. Aside from Christina, his children and grandchildren, Joe is survived by his brother Ken.

A remembrance service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 25 at Grace Lutheran Church in Nashua. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Grace Lutheran Church in Joe’s memory.

He was cremated at Phaneuf Funeral Home in Manchester; 603-625-5777.