Joseph J. Cockroft, 79, of Hampstead, NH passed away suddenly on Wednesday November 25, 2015.  He was born, raised and educated in Lawrence and lived in the same Water St. neighborhood for 62 years before moving to New Hampshire. Before retirement in 1998 he worked many years for Raytheon.

Joe lettered in Cross Country, Basketball and Baseball at Lawrence High School. He captained the basketball and baseball teams in 1954. He led the baseball team to a 16-0 record that year while striking out 20 batters twice and tossed a no-hitter against arch rival Lowell High School. He was awarded the prestigious Edward F. Cregg Medal, the highest award given to an athlete at graduation.

After graduation he went on to play professional baseball with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox organizations prior to enlisting in the armed forces where he played Army baseball in Europe. In 1961 he won 20 games losing 1 and was voted M.V.P. in the U.S. Army Forces European Tournament.

He was inducted into Lawrence High Schools Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.

Joe enjoyed spending his days tending to his many bird houses and flower beds, creating cutout photo figurines for family and friends and sometimes total strangers. He will be missed by the Water St. gang and their Tuesday morning breakfast meetings.

 He especially loved watching his granddaughter Hailey play softball for Central Catholic High School.

Joe is survived by his wife Jeannette (Lambert), to whom he's been married for 56 years. He also leaves behind a son, Mark J. and his wife Diane of Dracut, a son, David W. of Derry NH, a daughter, Donna  J. Lemieux, of Methuen  and grandchildren Deirdre and Hailey; Nephews Jim Blanchard of Methuen, Charlie Blanchard of Gilmer, Texas and very special friend Steve Rozelle of Danville, NH.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Monday November 30th, 2015 from 4 to 8pm at The Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen. Funeral services and burial will be private. To send an online condolence, please visit www.dewhirstfuneral.com or www.facebook.com/DewhirstFuneralHome.

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