Obituary of Joseph F Tremitiere

Joseph F. Tremitiere passed away peacefully Saturday September 15 at Wingate at Silver Lake in Kingston, MA at the age of 103.  He was formerly a resident of The Village at Duxbury for five years.

Joe was raised in White Horse, NJ.  He was the son of the late Joseph Tremitiere Sr. and Mabel Dunn Tremitiere.  He was predeceased by his brothers Andrew and Charles, and his sister Mabel Tremitiere Parker.  As a youth, influenced by his brother Andy, he became an amateur boxer, fighting at the Trenton Arena.  He graduated from Trenton State Teachers College in 1937, where he lettered in football and track.  It was in college where Joe became good friends with a special group of people who remained close all their lives. 

The day after graduation, Joe met the love of his life, Peggy (the late Margaret Shelton Tremitiere).  They celebrated 73 years of marriage until Peggy’s passing at age 93.  Joe and Peggy had settled in Allendale, NJ where Joe became a science teacher and department head at the George Washington Junior High School in Ridgewood, NJ, where he remained until his retirement.  A man of all trades, Joe repaired radios and TVs early on.  He was the lifeguard and swim instructor at the Allendale Pool in the summers.  He was a fine woodworker, making beautiful wooden boxes and other pieces, all while being an inspirational teacher to many children during his career. 

Upon retirement, Joe moved to Yardley, PA.  He had discovered the joy of close-up nature photography at the Ridgewood Camera Club and continued this passion at the Focal Planes Camera Club in Bucks County, where he gave workshops and won many awards.  He was thrilled when one of his photos was published in Popular Photography.  He and Peggy spent a month each year in Europe where Joe was able to perfect his travel photography.

Joe is survived by his two children, Robert Tremitiere and his wife Barbara of South Lyon, MI, and Diane Monaghan and her husband Jay of Duxbury, MA, four grandchildren Daniel Tremitiere, Jim Monaghan and his wife Christine, Caitlin Monaghan and fiancé Jeremy Gallagher, and Stacey Emery and her husband Kyle, two great-grandchildren Henry and Gianna Monaghan, and a large extended family who adored him.  In recent years, Joe loved the Wednesday van trips at The Village, the New Black Eagles Dixieland Band, strawberry ice cream, and giving fist bumps all around!  He never lost his zest for life and appreciated every year that was given to him.  Memorial services will be private.