September 21, 1938 – May 26, 2026
Joseph W. Haley, age 87, of Prides Crossing, MA, died peacefully at home after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease on May 26, 2026. He was born in Cambridge, MA, during the Great Hurricane of 1938 on September 21st. Aside from his trademark tenacity, he was also known as a man of considerable humility. The son of the late Maurice L. and Catherine M. (Halligan) Haley, he grew up in Reading, MA, with his brother, the late Edward M. Haley, MD.
He was married to the late Anna (Pansy) Prince Haley in 1970 for 49 extraordinary years. During their adventurous alliance, they pursued many outdoor sports with their numerous friends, including skiing, scuba diving, fishing, and fox hunting.
In 1960, Joe graduated from the University of Maine and received his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1963. In December 1963, Joe joined the law firm Goodwin Procter & Hoar (now known as Goodwin Procter). In 1968, Joe helped launch the firm’s real estate practice. Four years later, Joe became partner and continued for 35 more years to elevate the firm’s prestige nationally. As a senior partner, Joe led the Real Estate Group which represented many large development firms, lenders, and institutional owners in Boston, New England and across the country.
Joe served as the Vice-Chairman of the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and sat on the Board of Trustees as well as the Foundation Board at NHS/Beverly Hospital. He and his wife Pansy sponsored events at their home which funded the new cardiovascular center and four new operating rooms at Beverly Hospital.
Additionally, Joe served as a lecturer, panelist, and coordinator for various programs given by the New England Law Institute, Inc., Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Harvard Graduate School of Planning, and the MIT Center for Real Estate. He is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Who’s Who in America.
His personal life was as vigorous and focused as his professional one. Along with his beloved Pansy, whom he first met skiing in Stowe, Vermont in the 1960’s, they later heli-skied together in Snowbird, Utah, the Canadian Bugaboos and Europe. Together they were active members at Myopia Hunt Club where they fox hunted. He served as Whip and supported Pansy’s passion for horses and equestrian competitions. As an avid sportsman and accomplished athlete, Joe also enjoyed golfing, boating and fishing.
Joe was passionate about open land and its preservation. He often offered his legal expertise to support the mission of the Essex County Trail Association (ECTA), an equestrian group that works to protect and preserve hundreds of miles of trails on the North Shore in Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Topsfield, Wenham, and West Newbury. Following Goodwin Procter’s founding partner Sam Hoar, Joe also served as legal counsel for the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America.
As a pair, Joe and Pansy generously opened their home to countless friends and family. Their beachfront home was the backdrop for their trademark Fourth of July celebrations, as well as numerous family milestones over the decades, including weddings and memorial services. This recently included the scattering of ashes for his nephew Christopher B. Jones and his niece Karen K. Prince who predeceased Joe in 2019 and 2024 respectively.
Upon Joe’s retirement in 2007, he renewed his longstanding commitment to Pansy’s care and their many pets until her death in 2019. Joe lived quietly at home by the sea with his Siamese cats with the help of his dedicated caregivers for another seven years.
He is survived by his niece, Catherine Rost of Narragansett, RI, Alison Haley Bond of Warwick, RI, and Edward H. Haley of North Reading. Joe also leaves nine nieces and nephews from Pansy’s side of the family.
The burial will be private. A Memorial Service will be held at Myopia Hunt Club on September 9, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Essex County Trail Association (ECTA) PO Box 358, Wenham, MA 01936, NeighborGood Care, 21 Essex St., Marblehead, MA 01945, and to Beverly Hospital 85 Herrick St., Beverly, MA 01915. Arrangements by Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly, MA. Information and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.
