Joel Michael DeRoche, of Edgartown, died on March 21, unexpectedly at his home. He was 52.
Joel, the only son of Priscilla Donnelly Bettencourt and Richard DeRoche, was born Dec. 7, 1973 in Oak Bluffs. After graduating from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, he went on to Westfield State College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
As a teenager he worked for the Edgartown highway and harbor masters’ departments as well as for the Edgartown police department as a traffic officer. In 1994, he joined the Edgartown police department and served honorably until 2025 when he retired in the rank of sergeant.
As a police officer he parlayed his love of firearms by assuming the duties of department armorer, range instructor and firearms licensing coordinator for the department. In addition, he was a school resource officer, bike patrol officer, boat crew member and a field training officer.
Joel, a lifelong and true son of Edgartown, had many interests almost all of which involved the outdoors: hunting, fishing, shell fishing and searching for arrow heads. Many hours were spent with his lovely daughters in tree stands waiting for Bambi to pass by. He looked forward to his black bear and deer hunting with friends in Maine and hunting bear and moose with his dad in Canada.
When he was stuck indoors he could be found cooking a myriad of dishes or playing cribbage.
Joel is survived by his loving daughters Georgia and Mabel DeRoche; his parents Priscilla Donnelly Bettencourt (Hull) and Richard and Carol DeRoche (Middleton); his sister Heidi Williams and her husband Randy (Hull), sister Robyn Church and her husband Adam (Worthington) and his loving partner Marla Edoin (Mansfield). And sadly Joel leaves his faithful sidekick doberman “Dixie.”
Visiting hours will be held in the Chapman Funeral Home, Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs on Thursday, March 26, from 4 to 7 p.m.. His funeral mass will take place in St. Elizabeth’s Church, Main Street, Edgartown on Friday, March 27 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in the Tower Hill Cemetery in Edgartown. A reception will follow at the PA Club, Oak Bluffs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joel’s memory to the Edgartown Patrolmen’s Association, P.O. Box 1118, Edgartown, MA 02539 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306
Joel was a “salt of the Earth” kind of guy. He loved his daughters and was always so happy when he was outdoors with Georgia and Mabel! Godspeed Joel.
What a terrible loss for all of our community! Joel was loved by so many. He always was joyful and helped so many through his years of service to Edgartown. I’m just heartbroken for his family. His island roots are deep and long lasting. I’m so grateful to have known him and to have called him a friend. We’d always share island stories especially those we’d witness together at the courthouse. My deepest condolences from all of my family to you all! Ben