Obituary: Joseph F. Obuchowski, 1947-2026

Joseph F. Obuchowski, 79, of Shelburne, Vt., passed away at home on November 5, 2026. Jое was born on August 23, 1947, and grew up in Bellows Falls, Vt. After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class, he attended Cornell University, graduating in 1969 with a degree in government. He then pursued a law degree at Columbia University Law School, receiving his JD in 1972. While at Columbia, he took up rugby, joining the business and law schools’ rugby team. He loved playing, and, along with his team, he traveled to London, England, and Cardiff, Wales, to play. After law school, he worked for the City of New York as assistant corporation counsel. He then returned to Vermont, where, in order to be admitted to the Vermont Bar, he had to clerk for an attorney; that attorney was Jim Jeffords. His first job in Vermont was the director of legal services for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, where he specialized in municipal law.

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