Joseph Robert Mason
ALEXANDRIA - Dr. Joseph “Joe” Robert Mason, 86, passed away in Alexandria, Virginia on February 2, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. We hold him close in our hearts, and he lives on in our memories and stories. Joe was a loving husband, father, and grandfather whose pride and joy was his family.
Joe was born on August 19, 1937, to Rose (Stack) and Joseph Mason. He grew up in Taunton, Massachusetts before graduating from Providence College in 1959. He served his county in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964, including a tour in Germany during the height of the Cold War. Education was always of the upmost importance to Joe; he viewed himself as a lifelong student with a passion for learning. Upon completion of his military service, he was an Associate Professor at Boston University and completed his Ph.D. in Economics at Boston College in 1967.
Joe subsequently moved to upstate New York and enjoyed a lengthy and fulfilling career in academia at SUNY Brockport, which included positions as Professor of Business Administration and Economics and Dean, School of Professions. While at SUNY Brockport, Joe was integral to advancing the profile of the business program. He was on the forefront of the technical revolution and responsible for creating IT sites for students, which was an idea ahead of its time. Under his leadership as Dean, Joe spearheaded the national accreditation of the nursing program at SUNY Brockport.
Joe was a lifelong Boston sports fan, and he celebrated the last 20 years of successes, especially the long-awaited World Series victory by the Red Sox in 2004. Joe and his dad attended the 1967 World Series together, which was a special memory that made the 2004 victory that much sweeter. Joe had a remarkable ability to listen to music and repeat it without sheet music. He was also an avid golfer for much of his adult life, a passion and skill that spread across the family as a key shared interest.
Joe’s legacy continues through his wife, Sandra Mason; daughter Brannan (Eric) Meyers; sons Joseph (Sarah) Mason Jr., Jeffrey (Nikki) Mason, Dr. James Mason, and Jerod (Robin) Mason; granddaughters Lindsey Mason, Kayleigh Mason, and Abigail Meyers; and grandsons Jeffrey Mason Jr., Christian Mason, Andrew Meyers, and Henry Meyers. He is pre-deceased by his parents Joseph and Rose Mason.
A memorial service is scheduled on February 24, 2024, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, VA at 10am. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Mount Vernon Country Club, Alexandria, VA from 12-3pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.