Josseph Hallissey
By BOB OLIVER
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Joseph Hallissey, a former Dearborn resident who spent many years running his own business before working for the Dearborn Public Schools and Henry Ford Community College, passed away on September 5 in St. Johns, Florida. He was 85.
Hallissey initially came to Dearborn with the YMCA before settling and opening Hallissey Travel Service, a travel agency, in 1968. He was owner and president of the company until selling it in 2000.
Hallissey also served as president of the American Society of Travel Agents from 1984 to 1986.
After selling the travel agency, Hallissey went on to work in the communications department with the DPS before finishing his working career at HFCC as the Director of the Office of Development. He retired from HFCC in 2006.
Hallissey served on the board of directors and on the fundraising campaigns of many community charities, including the Centurions, Goodfellows, Rotary Club, Dearborn Symphony and Chamber of Commerce.
HFCC Federation of Teachers Union Local 1650 President John McDonald said that charity was very important to Hallissey.
“Joe was one of Dearborn’s greatest community activists and HFCC’s greatest friend,” McDonald said. “Joe chaired, or co-chaired with his close friend Mike Adray, every Dearborn Schools and HFCC millage over a 25 year period. He also chaired or championed virtually every Dearborn charitable function for more than 50 years.”
Hallissey was also the recipient of many awards due to his charitable endeavors. He received the “Citizen of the Year Award” from the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, the “Distinguished Community Service Award” from the Dearborn Rotary Club and in the HFCC “Distinguished Service Award in both 1976 and 1991 among other honors.
Information regarding a memorial service was not available at press time.
(Bob Oliver can be reached at [email protected].)