Rory Michael McFee

Rory Michael McFee, 78, of Mattapoisett, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Saturday, May 2, 2026. He was the husband of Christine (Reardon) McFee.

Born in Chicago, IL, son of the late Robert and Virginia (Pugil) McFee, he lived in Mattapoisett most of his life.

Rory bravely lived with Congestive Heart Failure for almost 25 years but he never let it stop him from living and enjoying life.

He attended high school at the Divine Word Seminary, Perrysburg, OH and the Divine Word College in Epworth, IA studying to be a missionary. He earned his master's degree in Special Education with certifications in history, guidance counseling, and rehabilitation counseling at Bridgewater State.

In his early career he helped start an abstinence program in New Bedford, MA for recovering addicts. He worked at Paul Dever State School as a job placement and rehab counselor. Rory helped to start the Collaborative Learning Center (a part of Project Orient, now SMEC), where they worked with expelled students to help them achieve their potential, and he was also a founding board member of Harbor Inc.

Rory was very proud of his career as a teacher and coach at ORRJHS where he worked alongside many stellar educators who he called friends. He was first hired to teach Special Education where he was able to bring his love of sports to the students by coaching them in the Special Olympics for eight years. For the remainder of his career there he taught seventh grade social studies and was very involved with the Survival Program and coaching. His involvement in Survival spanned forty years, ten years as the director, thirty years running the campfire portion, a number of years as base camp director, and always helping in any way he could.

His coaching consisted of not just intramural sports at the junior high but also coaching at the high school where he coached Freshmen Football, Varsity Ice Hockey, JV Boys Soccer, and Varsity Girls Soccer. It was with that last team that he had a lot of success; the 1996 team was inducted into the ORRHS Athletic Hall of Fame, and he was named Boston Globe Girls Soccer D-2 Coach of the Year in 1997. He was inducted into the ORRHS Hall of Fame in 2024 as a Coach and Contributor.

Being so involved in the community, from sports to teaching to Survival, as well as being part of the team that spearheaded the fundraising and construction of the Chuck Michaud Memorial Rink, he was honored as Mattapoisett Man of the Year in 2009.

Rory was an avid boater, always having either a sailboat or power boat since he moved to the area. He also loved playing and watching hockey, playing until he was 50, and watching his Bruins religiously.

Rory is survived by his loving wife Christine (Reardon) McFee, his daughter Carly and her husband Michael Elson, his sons Ryan McFee, and Sean McFee and his wife Kristine, his beloved grandchildren, Alexandra and Andrew Elson, and his sweet cat Sarah and his faithful dog Charlie.

He also leaves behind his sisters Candace (David) Coffey, and Carol (Dan) McCormick, and many brother and sister in-laws, nieces, and nephews who he adored.

Rory's Funeral Service will be held Friday May 8, 2026 at 11 AM in the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, 27 Church St., Mattapoisett, followed by his burial in Cushing Cemetery. Friends are invited to meet directly at Church. Visiting hours will be Thursday from 4-7 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road., Mattaposiett.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Special Olympics, or to ORRJHS Survival Program Checks made out to:
AHES, Inc
C/O Bobby Dumas
6 Kelly Dr.
East Freetown MA
02717