Arthur Walsh Jr.

Fishers Island, N.Y. — Arthur Joseph “Art” Walsh Jr., 90, of Fishers Island, N.Y., died Thursday, March 2, 2023, following a period of declining health. Born Feb. 18, 1933, in Fall River, Mass., Art grew up on Fishers Island, the son of the late Matilda Wall Walsh and Arthur Joseph Walsh Sr.

A graduate of Fishers Island School and a skilled mariner who spent his life on the water, Art enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War with duty aboard USS

K-1, Barracuda. In 1958, he married the late Bernadette “Bernie” Dooley, his wife of 46 years, and they settled on Fishers Island, where Art succeeded his father as postmaster. He remained in the position for 15 years followed by 14 years in Old Lyme. In 1988, Art returned with Bernie to Fishers Island and established Walsh Contracting Inc., which they successfully operated until 2002.

Art leaves his partner, Francis Needham Roethgen, with whom he shared 17 happy years traveling, visiting with friends, and taking long walks; his daughters, Ann Anthony and her husband

Bob of New York City, and Sarah Rose and her husband Andrew of Fairhaven, Mass.; and his five grandchildren: Arthur and Sarah Anthony, Mimi Cushing, and Carter and Patrick Rose, all of whom he was very proud.

Art’s family wishes to thank the attentive and compassionate Dr. Chris Ingram of the Island Health Project, as well as Art’s kind and skillful caregiver, Sandra Barker, and the care team at Masonicare at Mystic, including Yvette, Anne,

Patty, Glenda, Sara, Ilma, Ana, Eboni, Tinyetta, Tina “Boss Man,” Isha, Katrina, Mary, and many, many others.

A Mass of Christian burial officiated by the Rev. Kevin Gillian will be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Our Lady of Grace Church, Fishers Island, N.Y. Interment will immediately follow and all are welcome to a reception at the Fishers Island Community Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Art’s memory to the Fishers Island Fire Department, P.O. Box 123, Fishers Island, NY 06390. The Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London, is assisting the family with the arrangements. www.neilanfuneralhome.com.