Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
LYNNFIELD — Family and friends were invited to attend visiting hours on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach St., Revere, for Ret. United States Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph F. Haughney, 79, who passed away on Feb. 14, 2024.
Joseph’s funeral was conducted from the funeral home on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 758 Salem St., Lynnfield. Interment was held privately at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Born in Philadelphia, Penn., Jospeh was the son of Joseph and Jane (Czuba) Haughney. After graduating from LaSalle College High School, he attended La Salle University in Pennsylvania. He soon entered the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era and made a career in the military honorably serving for over 20 years. During his time in the military, Joseph worked on some of the military’s earliest communication systems and was a project leader on the Autodin network. He also continued his education while enlisted, earning an MBA from Western New England University as well as a master’s degree in computer science from Boston University.
From 1979 through 1981, Joseph worked as network manager for the ARPANET, which was a precursor to the internet, where he helped promote early use of this technology. Haughney was one of the first users of pre Internet technology to warn of the dangers of online harm. He also was instrumental in choosing the date of Jan. 1, 1983 when the Arpanet and Defense Data Network adopted the TCP/IP protocols. This date arguably marks the start of the Internet. During Joseph’s military career, he spent time working in Weisbaden, Germany, Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, Hanscom Air Force Base and The Pentagon.
Following Joseph’s honorable discharge in 1981, he continued to serve in the reserves and worked as a government contractor. He and his wife, Kerry, raised their family in Lynnfield, where they were residents for more than 40 years until her passing less than two years ago. Joseph was very devoted to his Catholic faith. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing chess, listening to classical music and reading about history.
Joseph was the beloved husband of the late Kerry E. (Collins) Haughney. He was the loving father of Christine E. Dare–Bryan and her husband, Thomas H. of Larchmont, N.Y.; Jonathan J. Haughney of Barre, Vermont; and Gretchen B. Haughney of Arlington. He is the cherished grandfather of: Henry J., Elisabeth A. and James F.
To send online condolences, visit vertucciosmithvazza.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals.
