Terry J Atherton

Terry J Atherton, 79, of Cohasset, MA, passed away peacefully on July 17th, 2026. Terry was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend to many. He leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories.

Terry was born at Chanute Air Force Base in Urbana, Illinois. As the son of an Air Force family, he lived at several military bases throughout his childhood before graduating from high school near Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1976, Terry and his wife, Laura, settled in Cohasset, where they built their home and raised their family.

With a civil engineering degree, Terry dedicated the bulk of his career to Cambridge Systematics, a transportation consulting firm. He later transitioned into market research, bringing his analytical talents to Digitas. Outside of his professional life, Terry was an avid tennis player, a dedicated runner in his earlier years, and possessed a deep love for sailing. His absolute favorite memories, however, were of family trips spent in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, and time spent in the Caribbean, where he and his son, Leigh, would scuba dive. He was also a talented photographer and a tech enthusiast who always enjoyed playing with the newest gadgets. Whether over a stiff gin and tonic or a strong cup of coffee, Terry loved sharing stories and laughs with the friends and family who loved him dearly.

Terry is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Laura Atherton of Cohasset, MA; his daughter, Sarah Barton and her husband Scott of Wellesley, MA; and his son, Leigh Atherton and his wife Tracie of Greenville, NC. He was the proud and beloved grandfather of Henry Barton, Charlotte Barton, and Niah Atherton. He also leaves behind his sister, Susan Pollock and her husband Steve of Novato, CA; and his brother, William Atherton and his partner Ursula of Madeira, Portugal. Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Rita and Jack Atherton.

A celebration of Terry’s life will be held at a later date. Details will be shared with family and friends as they are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Terry’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org