Joseph "Joe" Gaze Jr.

JEFFERSON - Joseph (Joe) Gaze, Jr., passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on August 13, 2023, following a battle with colon cancer.

Born November 4, 1948 in Westfield, MA, to Joseph Gaze, Sr. and Mary (Brezniak) Gaze, Joe was the eldest of his siblings: Nancy Gaze of Bradenton, FL; Dan Gaze (Val) of Southampton, MA; Elaine Viecelli (Jack) of Agawam, MA; and Betty Johnston (Bruce, deceased) of Agawam, MA.

As a youth, Joe excelled in sports, his favorites being swimming and football, the latter of which he played at Cathedral High School. He was also an Eagle Scout and participated in Civil Air Patrol at Westover Air Force Base, where he met the love of his life and wife of 56 years, Teresa (Haber) Gaze of Chicopee, MA.

Joe received his undergraduate degree from Westfield State College and his master’s in mathematics from Kansas State University. After returning from Kansas, Joe and Teresa (Teri) started their life in Oxford, MA, where he taught at Bay Path Vocational High School and coached football. They then moved to Hampden, MA, where he worked in insurance, became an actuary, and was a high school football referee. They later moved to Jefferson, MA, where he took on actuarial pension consulting roles.

Joe’s favorite role in life, however, was that of father to Laura Morse of Clinton, CT (Jeff); Eric Gaze (Jeannine Anderson) of Brunswick, ME; and Cassandra Girard (Chad) of Natick, MA; as well as grandfather to Joseph and Eva Morse; Galen Gaze; and Jacqueline and Genevieve Girard.

Always a teacher, Joe coached many of his children’s sports teams. He also rallied his children and grandchildren to participate in triathlons, biathlons and other athletic events.

He cherished his time with Teri and their kids while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard in the summers, and at their home in Becket, MA, where Joe was Chairman of the Sherwood Greens Road Commission and treasurer of the Becket Arts Center. He loved swimming at Center Pond, hiking nature trails, and playing cards and games with family and friends. In his free time, he relished contemplating mathematical challenges with his son, Eric, and getting to know his neighbors and their stories.

Joe was the eternal optimist; negative words never passed his lips. He was always supportive of his wife, children and grandchildren. He inspired his family to be the best they could be, sharing his belief that ‘anything is possible with hard work and faith’.

In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Joe leaves sisters and brothers-in-law, cousins, nephews, nieces and countless friends. His light shines on them all.

Calling hours are Tuesday, August 22nd, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Christian service will be held on Wednesday, August 23rd, at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Veteran’s Inc. in Worcester online at https://www.veteransinc.org/donations/ The family extends their gratitude to Notre Dame Hospice for their compassionate care of Joe.

To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit his tribute wall.