Obituary: Judge Joseph I. Dever, 80

MARBLEHEAD, MA - DEVER, Judge Joseph I. Age 80, husband of 53 years of Ann (Cawley) Dever, passed away on January 24, 2016.

Judge Dever was born in West Roxbury and grew up in Boston and Cambridge. He resided in Marblehead for the last fifty years. He was the son of the late Joseph P. Dever and Constance Marie (Cogan) Dever. He was the nephew of the late Paul A. Dever, Governor of Massachusetts. Judge Dever was a graduate of Boston College High School, Fordham University and Boston University Law School.

Judge Dever served in the 102nd Tactical Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, which was activated in 1961 and deployed to France during the Berlin Crisis. Later he served as the unit’s judge advocate general. In 1965, He became a staff attorney for the Massachusetts Defenders Committee, now known as the Committee for Public Counsel Services, and became the attorney in charge of its Essex County office in 1968.

Judge Dever was appointed to the bench in 1987 by Governor Michael Dukakis and served as First Justice of the Lynn District Court from 1988 until he retired in 2005. During his time on the bench, Judge Dever participated in what he called the Joy of his judgeship, “Changing Lives Through Literature” in which female multiple offenders are required, instead of incarceration, to complete a college level literature course.

During his life, Judge Dever was recognized and honored by many civic organizations, community groups and public service agencies, including, recently, the Massachusetts Judges Conference, the Anti-Defamation League of the North Shore, the Essex County Bar Association and Boston College High School. Judge Dever served on the Board of Directors for HAWC, a program serving abused women and their children on the North Shore. Judge Dever also served on the Board of Marblehead’s Council on Aging.

He was a member of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor. He frequently performed dramatic readings with the Symphony by the Sea and other orchestral groups in and around his hometown of Marblehead. He performed in many community theater groups including the Marblehead Little Theater and the Mugford Street Players. He was a member of the Clover Club of Boston, the Clover Players and the Clover Glee Club.

He was a communicant at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Parish where he served for many years on the Parish Finance Council and in other leadership roles. In addition to his wife, he leaves his daughter Lesley Dever of Marblehead, his son Joseph P. Dever and his wife Theresa Finn Dever of Marblehead, his son Paul A. Dever and his wife Samantha Helfert of Silver Spring, MD and his son Robert Dever and his wife Bianca Dever of Beverly. He also leaves eight grandchildren, Margaret Mary, Joseph Ignatius, Eleanor Rose, Patrick Finn and John Joseph all of Marblehead, Norah Elizabeth of Silver Spring, MD and Derek James and Mary Louise of Beverly.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boston College High School, 150 William T. Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125. His funeral will be held on Friday, January 29th from Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal Street, (corner of North St), SALEM, MA at 10:00 AM to be followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church, Marblehead, MA. His wake will be held at Murphy Funeral Home on Thursday, January 28, 2016 from 4-8pm. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Burial will be private. For additional information or on line guest book please call 978 744 0497 or visit www.Murphyfuneralhome.com.