• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact Us
  • Sponsor An Email
  • Post A Job
  • Merger & Acquisition Services

Agency Checklists

Massachusetts Insurance News & Job Opportunities

You are here: Home / Insurance News | Massachusetts / In Memoriam | Massachusetts / In Memoriam: Josiah Hale Welch 1930-2020

In Memoriam: Josiah Hale Welch 1930-2020

October 20, 2020 by AC Editor

Mr. Welch was the long-time owner of the Chase & Lunt Insurance Agency

A well-known member of the Massachusetts insurance industry, Mr. Welch was also the youngest-ever president of the Massachusetts Association of Independent Insurance Agents (the precursor to the MAIA).

Mass Agent Josiah Hale Welch 1930 2020
Josiah Hale Welch

The following is a reprint of his obituary from the Newburyport News:

Josiah Hale Welch, 90, died peacefully on a beautiful, sunny day at his beloved cottage on Plum Island. One of Newburyport’s business and institutional leaders during the second half of the 20th century, Josiah was a proud native of Newburyport.

Born at the Anna Jaques Hospital on January 16, 1930, he was the son of Richard Edwin and Helen Pauline (Hale) Welch. He was the brother of the late Professor Richard E. Welch, Jr. and leaves his beloved sister Pauline Helen Lemmon of Corona del Mar, California. He was lovingly married for 58 years to the late Donna M. (Oberlin) Welch. Together the couple raised their children Jonathan Hale and Amy Susan at the family’s home on High Street. Josiah married Deirdre Mary Farrell of Newburyport in June 2018 and found love a second time.

He graduated from Governor’s Academy in 1947 and Dartmouth College in 1951. He remained devoted to both schools for the rest of his life. During the Korean War he served in the U.S. Army Adjunct General Corps.

Throughout most of his life, Josiah loved tennis. He ranked second in the New England Junior Singles and first in New England Junior Doubles in 1948, to be followed by his election as captain of the Dartmouth College varsity tennis team and captain of the New England Junior Davis Cup team in 1951.

Josiah served for a quarter of a century as a trustee of Governor’s Academy and as an extremely active and proud alumnus of Dartmouth. He was honored as the “Alumni Man of the Year” by Governor’s Academy and was presented the “Spirit of ’51” award by his Dartmouth classmates and the Dartmouth class president award.

Josiah, the long-time owner of the Chase & Lunt Insurance Agency, was equally devoted to his hometown. He made major community contributions over a lifetime. He was the former chairman of the Board of Directors of the First and Ocean National Bank. A trustee of the Anna Jaques Hospital for more than half a century, he served as chairman of the hospital’s board for eight years. He continually gave back to his community. He served as president of the Newburyport Health Center and the Newburyport Maritime Society, director of the Newburyport YMCA, chairman of the Newburyport Historic Waterfront Commission, president of the Moseley Foundation for Social Services, president of the Wheelwright Scientific School, vice president of the Griffin Home for Aged Men, trustee of the James Duncan Phillips Foundation, and trustee of the Newburyport Public Library. He was past president of the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce, the Newburyport Rotary Club, the Dalton Club, the Old Town Country Club, and a former trustee of the Riverwoods at Exeter Life Care Facility. A proud Rotarian for over 50 years, he was named the Paul Harris Fellow three times. In 2016 he received the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce Ed Molin Community Leadership Award.

He was a devoted parishioner of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and served on its vestry for many years.

He brought his blend of enthusiasm, warmth, and grace to his profession. He became the youngest president of the Massachusetts Association of Independent Insurance Agents (MAII) at the age of 33 and was a former vice president and member of the executive committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA). His professional awards included the Woodsworth Memorial Award from the IIAA and the Henry J. Barry Pacesetter Award from the MAII.

Josiah, however, was not all business and civic devotion. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, uncle, and great uncle. Often the life of a party, he greatly enjoyed his membership in the Tuesday Night Club and other clubs.
He is survived by his wife Deirdre Farrell Welch; his children, Jonathan Hale Welch, Amy Susan Welch and her husband Barry Jacobson; his nephews Richard E. Welch III and his wife Judith, Richard Lemmon, Jr. and his wife Ann; nieces Cathy Strauss, Christina Welch Matthews and her husband, John, Beth Welch and her husband Chuck Christensen, Margaret Welch, and Helen Lemmon Alarcon and her husband Gregory, along with many great-nieces and great-nephews and a great-great-niece; and by his beloved City of Newburyport.
He will be missed by his many dear and close friends and colleagues.

Due to the continued restrictions of COVID-19, a Memorial Service will be held at a later time. Arrangements are by Elliott, Woodworth & Rogers Family Funeral Home, 35 Green Street, Newburyport.

For those interested in signing the guestbook, it can be accessed here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed Under: In Memoriam | Massachusetts Tagged With: Agency Checklists, insurance massachusetts, Josiah Hale Welch, massachusetts insurance news, New England Insurance News

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura J. Henderson says

    October 20, 2020 at 6:54 AM

    Josiah Welch was a remarkable man, mentor and leader! I was fortunate enough to work for Mr. Welch for eight years at Chase and Lunt Insurance. He will be sadly missed by all!

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored

Sponsored

MA Division of Insurance Announcements

Latest Agency Sales

Salem Five Insurance Acquires Cavanaugh Insurance Agency

Insurance Agency Mergers & Acquisitions in Massachusetts | Q3-2022

More Agency Sales

Career News

Michael Percy Appointed To Concord Group Board of Directors

Michael Percy Appointed To Concord Group Board of Directors

Layoffs At Two Boston-Based Insurtechs

Layoffs At Two Boston-Based Insurtechs

Massachusetts insurance news, MA Insurance News, Mass. Commissioner of Insurance Gary Anderson, NAIC 2019 Appointments

NAIC Names Its 2023 Committee Leadership

View More Career News

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Nancy L. Perocchi, 1937-2022

In Memoriam: Peter J. Nobile, Jr., 1931-2022

In Memoriam: Nancy Jane A. Vajcovec, 1947-2022 | Agency Checklists

In Memoriam: Nancy Jane A. Vajcovec, 1947-2022

CAR News

Outgoing Gov Baker Signs Catalytic Converter Bill on Way Out

Road Safety Analysts Put Mass. In “Danger” Zone

Final Look 2022: The Massachusetts Private Passenger Auto Insurance Marketplace

View More CAR News

Massachusetts Law Updates

Insured’s $2 Million Claim For Loss Prevention Costs Scuttled By The Supreme Judicial Court

A look at the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts’ ruling on Ken’s Foods’ common law reimbursement claim.

An Insured’s Underpayment of Loss Lawsuit Over Brookline Building Backfires

The Appeals Court recently affirmed a decision in Anwar Faisal et al. v. United National Insurance Company that reminds one of the saying, “Be careful what you ask for. You may get it.” In this case, the insured sued to get more money on a property damage claim, asking the court to rule on his […]

Failed Foray Into Massachusetts Ends In A Lawsuit For New York Agency Over Its Producer’s Understanding of Salary v. Draw

A case in point about what can go wrong when an agency, its officers, and a producer being onboarded, come to loggerheads and litigation ensues.

Harvard College Sues Zurich to Overturn A Late Notice Denial of A $15 Million Policy Claim

Late Policy Notice to Zurich Leads To Harvard’s Loss of $15 Million in Coverage

Summary Judgement for Zurich effectively dismissed Harvard’s lawsuit by The Court.

More Mass. Law Updates

DOI News

Facts & Figures For New England Insurance Departments & Insurance Producers | 2023

Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Honored for Exceptional Leadership

DOI: Insurance Companies Must Renew MA Appointments by October 14th

The 2022 Home Insurance Report Part III | Policy Numbers by Massachusetts County

View More DOI News

Insurance Fraud

Walmart Will Pay $500k For Its Failure To Follow Workers’ Comp. Prescription Pricing Procedures

Former Insurance Adjuster Indicted in Connection with Stealing Identities of Four Victims of Merrimack Valley Gas Explosions

Phony Pumpkin Assault Claim Gets 3 Years For Insurance Fraud

Edgartown Masonry Company Owner Indicted for Workers’ Compensation Fraud

More Insurance Fraud News

Footer

Agency Checklists

Contact us

14 Summer Street
Suite 102
Malden, MA 02148
617-598-3800

Advertise on Agency Checklists

We offer a variety of ways to get help promote your company or product.

Announcements
Email Sponsorships
Partnerships
Custom Collaborations

*Affiliate Disclosure

Please note that any of Agency Checklists’ articles might contain one or more affiliate links. This means that any subsequent purchase resulting from these links may result in a commission for us, but at no additional cost to you. For example, as an Amazon Associate, Agency Checklists earns a commission from all qualifying purchases. By working with affiliates we can continue to keep Agency Checklists subscription free. Thank you for your support.

SEARCH OUR SITE

Explore Our Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Agency Checklists · All rights reserved.

 

Loading Comments...