John Anthony Dooley
April 13, 1947 - May 16, 2017
John Anthony Dooley, a Coastside native, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2017 surrounded by family at his home in Half Moon Bay, CA. The oldest son of O.B. and Hazel (Teixeira) Dooley, John was born April 13, 1947.
Growing up in El Granada, John began at a young age working at his mother’s restaurant, Hazels’ Seafood in Princeton. There he developed a love of all things fish and boats working with his dad and Uncle John Teixeira. He attended Half Moon Bay High School where he met the love of his life, Lorraine. John and Lorraine were married in 1966 at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church in Half Moon Bay.
John served two years in the United States Army where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. For the majority of his Army service, he was stationed in Munich, Germany where Lorraine and John shared a one-bedroom attic apartment. John would return to Germany 47 years later during a European vacation with his wife, brother and sister-in-law. There, working from memory, he delighted in finding the exact apartment where the grandson of John’s original landlord was happy to allow them access to their former home.
Upon John’s return home from military service, he worked as a plumber but could not escape his passion for fishing. In 1978, after several years of fishing out of Half Moon Bay and being a charter member of the legendary “Mosquito Fleet”, John set his sights on Alaska. In partnership with his brother, John and Robert (Bob) built and ran seven commercial fishing vessels, two of which were built and launched locally in Princeton. Together through hard work and personal sacrifice the two brothers developed a successful fishing partnership spanning nearly 50 years.
John loved his family and cared deeply about those he called friends. Quick with a smile or a good story, John loved people and lived life to the fullest rejoicing in the many friendships he built along the way. Regular morning coffee at the Ketch was always the highlight of his day.
Throughout his life, John gave back to local organizations as well as other communities he was connected to by family and business. He was a member of the Los Caballeros Drill Team, Brotherhood of St. Anthony and I.D.E.S. Year after year, John supported many fundraisers for St. Matthew’s Catholic School, Junipero Serra High School, Notre Dame High School, Half Moon Bay High School, La Honda Fire Brigade, Pacific Point Christian School, I.D.E.S, Brotherhood of St. Anthony and Boys & Girls Club of HMB among many others.
His parents and his beloved wife Lorraine precede him in death. John is survived by his daughter Antoinette Dooley-McElroy (Brent), his son Troy Dooley (Debbie), his brother Robert Dooley (Sharon), stepsister Patricia Magri and his grandchildren Connor and Devin McElroy, Brandon, Ella and Brayden Dooley.
Family and Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Mass and Celebration of Life at 11am on Friday, June 9th at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church, 400 Church St., Half Moon Bay, CA. Interment to follow at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, CA.
Donations can be made in John’s memory to Mills Peninsula Hospital Foundation,1501 Trousdale Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010.