Joel B. Peckham

Joel B. Peckham, age 82, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 9, 2022, at Accentcare Hospice Inpatient Facility in Milton, Massachusetts.  Born in Medford, Massachusetts on November 9, 1940, he was the son of the late Gordon Drew and Jane (Staples) Peckham.  Raised in Winchester, Massachusetts, he was a standout three season athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball for Winchester High School.  Following his graduation in 1958, Joel earned his bachelor’s degree in 1962 at Tufts University, where his athletic legacy continued as the captain of the basketball and baseball teams.  As a Collegiate Baseball All American, Joel earned an opportunity to try out as a catching prospect for the Twins organization at Fenway Park and was offered a minor league contract. Instead of pursuing a career as a professional baseball player he chose to marry the love of his life, Jeanne Louise Chase, on August 17, 1963, in the Methodist Church of Winchester. 

The young couple initially made their home in Boston where he continued to study English, completing his teaching fellowship, and earning a masters degree at Northeastern University. In 1964 Joel accepted a teaching position at Sharon High School where the couple lived and raised a family for 58 years. In 1968 Joel earned a second master's degree from San Diego State University and took on a new role of guidance counselor at Sharon High School, helping countless students find their way over the years.  His innate ability to relate and communicate with teens led him to be an essential mentor and coach of baseball, basketball, football, and even field hockey. He served as head baseball coach at Sharon High for over forty years, eventually being inducted into the Massachusetts Baseball Coach's Hall of Fame in 2012.  In his retirement, Joel enjoyed escaping the cold and snow of New England, to spend the winter months with Jeanne, in Delray Beach, Florida.  While winters were spent in Florida, Joel and Jeanne returned to Sharon in the spring, and spent their summers as directors at Camp Manitou in Oakland Me. before vacationing at the Chase family cottage in Eastham Ma.

His career as athletic director at Manitou spanned 49 summers, a career so consequential and impactful that the owners created a replica of Fenway Park, and named it Peckham Park. Back at home, Joel loved spending a day on the links with friends, enjoying the courses of Norton and Sharon Country Clubs.  After a long eighteen holes, Joel enjoyed relaxing, watching the Boston Red Sox, reading a favorite book, or tending to his flower gardens.  His love for literature led him to be the best Scrabble player in the family. In addition to the spoken word, Joel enjoyed listening to music, singing, and dancing with his beloved wife.  Most of all, Joel was devoted to his family and was especially delighted with his grandchildren, attending all of their athletic competitions and artistic endeavors.

Beloved husband of Jeanne Louise (Chase) Peckham.

Loving father of Lisa Maidment and her husband, Jeffrey, of Sharon, Christina Kemp and her husband, John, of Mansfield, and Joel Peckham Jr. and his wife, Rachael, of Huntington, West Virginia.

Father-in-law of the late Susan Atefat Peckham.

Cherished grandfather of Drew Maidment, Natalie Maidment, Anna Kemp, Brandon Kemp, Darius Atefat-Peckham, and the late Cyrus Atefat-Peckham.

Brother of Leora Cummings and her husband, Roy, of Winchester, John Peckham and his wife, Kathy, of Prescott, Arizona, Jeff Peckham and his wife, Gertrude, of Marietta, Georgia, and Susan Martin and her partner, Brad, of Barre, Vermont.

Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Joel's visitation on Thursday, December 15, 2022, from 4 to 7 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

The Celebration of Life service will be held in the First Congregational Church, 29 North Main Street, Sharon on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 11:00 AM.  Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joel's name may be made to Accentcare Hospice, 1 Edgewater Drive, Suite 103, Norwood, MA 02062.