Joseph F. Haley died peacefully at his home in Provincetown on Feb. 5, 2023 with his husband, Eric, and close friends by his side. The cause was cancer; he was 80.
Joe was born in Dorchester on March 21, 1942 to the late Francis G. and Florence (Rogers) Haley. He was the youngest of nine siblings. He graduated from Dorchester High School in 1960 and earned a degree in business administration from St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia in 1965. He worked at Gillette for 10 years as a business analyst before his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start a restaurant in Hampton Beach, N.H.
After five years he bought two burnt-out buildings in Boston’s Fenway with his late partner, Gene Hurd. They restored the buildings and on May 7, 1982 the Oasis Guest House began welcoming travelers.
In May 2022, the Oasis and its sister property, Adam’s Bed and Breakfast, celebrated 40 years of hospitality, which, to Joe, was a way of life. There was always room at the table for another guest. His parties and dinners were legendary. While he was always generous, he never did share that final ingredient for his famous meatloaf.
Joe welcomed friends and family in his beloved Provincetown and in the winter at his home in Ft. Lauderdale. He never forgot his humble beginnings. He knew how to connect with people and make everyone feel welcome. Joe quietly supported organizations whose work he cared greatly about, including Fenway Health and Community Servings.
Joe is survived by his husband of nearly 29 years, Eric Tingdahl; his friends Hal Langell, Stephen Mastrorilli, Richard Olson, and Richard Smith; and many nephews, nieces, and great-nephews and -nieces.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated at Holy Family Parish in Dorchester on Feb. 13. Burial was at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Provincetown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s name to: Community Servings, (servings.org) and Fenway Health fenwayhealth.org.
