John P. Clancy Doucette, a handyman, carpenter, and dune shack caretaker who was active in the local recovery community, died of pancreatic cancer on June 7, 2025 attended by his three sisters. He was 66.
“My brother was everything to all of us,” said his sister Karen.
John was born on Feb. 19, 1959 in Dorchester to Marion King, a cafeteria worker, and John Clancy, who had a window-washing business. They split up when the children were young, and Philip Doucette, a chef, became their stepfather.
John arrived in Provincetown more than 20 years ago, according to Karen. “Once he figured out he was gay, that’s where he wanted to be,” she said.
He worked as a handyman and contractor and got involved in the community in many ways — volunteering for the AIDS Support Group and for local AA meetings. “He helped a lot of people get sober,” said his friend Austin Knight. “John was quiet and had a very strong sense of responsibility to reach out to newcomers trying to get sober. He also led meetings and was inspirational to a lot of people.”
John enjoyed gardening as well as painting and taking art classes. Around 15 years ago, he won a week-long residence at one of the dune shacks through the Provincetown Community Compact’s lottery system, doing some repairs while he was there. When Tom Boland, who was managing the shacks but becoming increasingly busy with his Far Land Provisions business, discovered that John was a handyman, he hired him to take over as the C-Scape dune shack’s caretaker and the driver who would bring other residents there for their stays. Karen said that, in her brother’s honor, she has replaced a rotting bench at the shack with a new one.
Later, when Tom and his partner Jim Farley started Far Land on the Beach at Herring Cove, they hired John to be the master of the beach bonfire for the live-music events. “He would collect the wood and build it and tend it and that was his passion,” said Tom.
“He was very generous of spirit,” Tom added. “I found him to be always ready to help. Even though he technically worked for us only at Far Land at the Beach, he was so helpful at Provisions. He was always around to help us do odd jobs.” He would even step in to do tasks like take their car for inspection.
“He was a daily presence and one that I miss greatly,” said Tom.
“My brother was phenomenal,” said Karen, who owns a condo where John would often help with repairs. “He was funny and very creative. We were all very close.” When she came to town after his death to empty out his apartment, she added, she was amazed at how many people came by to help.
“It was overwhelming how many people respected him and how many friends he had,” she said.
John is survived by his sister Karen M. Stroup of Weymouth; sister Patti Pickering and husband Scott of Scituate; sister Linda M. Sanford and partner Joey Palermo of Brockton; and nephews and nieces Ryan, Jonathon, Jesse, and Jamie.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 236 Commercial St. in Provincetown.
