Jeffrey W. Herlihy

Jeffrey W. Herlihy, 55, of Otis MA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 1 at Fairview Commons in Great Barrington MA of cancer. 

Jeff, also known as “Bubba”, was born on December 31, 1963 in Pittsfield MA to Mary A. (Withers) Rathbun and James E. Herlihy.  He was educated in Lee Schools and graduated from Lee High School in 1982.  Jeff moved to Otis as a young man and quickly made close friends and connections.

He married his wife, Amy Rintoul, on July 26, 2014, in Otis MA.  They met in 2008 and had eleven wonderful years together.

Jeff loved carpentry and proudly showed off his work to those around him. He worked with his good friend, Mike LaLiberte or “Frenchie” as he affectionately called him, building homes in and around Otis. 

He played in horseshoe and softball leagues and always proclaimed he was the best third baseman in the state of Massachusetts.  He was an avid sports fan and the New York Giants were his favorite team.  In September, they won two weeks in a row and we are thankful he was able to watch the games.  Even in his final days, he would still give a “thumbs up” at any mention of his Giants.

Jeff’s greatest accomplishments were his two children, Meghann and Taylor.  He was so proud of them and the adults they turned out to be.  They were able to be with him until his last breath and he took great comfort knowing they were there for him and for each other.

Jeff was a man who could light up the room with his colorful sense of humor.  He used this humor and his positive outlook to comfort family and friends during the most difficult days.  He had the nurses, doctors and caregivers laughing along with him until the very end.  He will certainly be missed by many.

Besides his wife Amy, he is also survived by his father James (Cindy) Herlihy of Westfield, his mother, Mary Rathbun of Lee, his daughter, Meghann (Jordan) Arnold of Otis, his son, Taylor (Taylor) Herlihy of Adams, his step-son, Stefan Rintoul of Otis, his granddaughter, Charlotte Herlihy, his two brothers, Kenneth and Kris Herlihy, his sister, Ashley (Scott) Fagan, the mother of his children, Shirley Petithory, and all the members of the Withers, Herlihy, Crandall, and Rintoul families.  He is also survived by his lifelong friends Tim Murphy, Greg Middleton, Anthony Clark, Tom Soules, Roger Meyer and the many others, too numerous to count.

He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Maritta and Franklyn Withers, his paternal grandparents, Maude and Edward Herlihy, his brother, Michael Herlihy, his step-father, Walter Rathbun and his step-son, Calum Rintoul.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Knox Trail Inn in East Otis MA on October 19 from 12-4pm.  In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations in his memory to the Otis Rescue Squad at PO Box 145, Otis MA 01253.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks to his caregivers; the Otis Rescue Squad and the staff of Berkshire Medical Center, Hospice Care of the Berkshires, and Fairview Commons.