Patriot Homes Spotlight: Joe Gateley

Joe and Janet Gateley with their new pup, Bailey.

Things have come full circle, so to speak, for Joe Gateley. 

Two years ago, the Army veteran (E-4 Specialist) and his wife, Janet, moved into South Boston NDC’s veterans housing at Patriot Homes, a project that revitalized a vacant police station.

“It's just kind of a strange coincidence how it worked,” Joe said. “What's unbelievable about this for me is I have been in this building dozens of times as the original police station. My stepdad  was a Boston detective here.” 

And right next to the police station was a nightclub called Blinstrub’s, where his mother worked as a hostess. The nightclub was a big deal, hosting acts such as Patti Page, Wayne Newton, and Frank Sinatra, Joe said.

“Many Saturday nights they didn't have a babysitter so our punishment was to sit upstairs and watch these wonderful acts and eat club sandwiches,” Joe recalled with a laugh.

“And here I am now living here. It's just so ironic. It's incredible,” he said. “It’s worked out well; it really has.”

Joe and Janet, both 69, are very involved in the community. Joe, who grew up in Dorchester, started the Dorchester Pop Warner program, which is still going strong today. He’s coached baseball and hockey. Janet, who was a Girl Scout leader, retired from the United States Post Office.

When Joe got out of the service, he fell into drugs and didn’t do the right things financially at that time to save. But working as a union laborer in construction, he has a small pension and Social Security to pay the bills. 

He is grateful for the affordable rent at Patriot Homes. “As we've been paying this now for a little over two years, it's amazing what the difference is. It just allows us to have a completely different lifestyle.”

Many years ago, even before Patriot Homes was built, Joe and Janet had seen signs about the development and Janet asked if they should apply. “No, no,” he said. “I've never asked for anything in my life. I'm not going to do that.”

As Joe was seeing friends starting to get into housing, a friend finally said to him, “You are a veteran. Why don't you call this number and talk to Michelle [Zenga, property manager]?” 

At that point, Joe thought maybe there was a piece of the pie for him and Janet.

“It was meant to happen because it's a beautiful two-bedroom apartment for us,” said Joe, noting they moved from a tiny apartment on Sixth Street. “We're active in the family, the grandchildren and everything else, which makes a big difference for us.

“It’s good to have two bedrooms,” Joe said. “The grandkids love coming over.”

Joe and Janet, who have three children, had been helping their daughter’s family in North Andover after their granddaughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with bone cancer. Thankfully, her last chemo was March 21. During treatment, it was Savannah’s job to help Joe and Janet find a dog … and she did. Joe and Janet recently adopted a shih-poo that Savannah named Bailey.

The Gateleys are grateful for what they have at Patriot Homes. They look forward to barbecuing this summer and having the grandkids come over.

The couple love their fellow Patriot Homes vets and enjoy the mix of ages. “The people here are awesome,” Joe said. “We have great relationships with the people here.”

Joe and Janet view the South Boston NDC staff as family. Joe calls Christine Kelly (residential coordinator-Patriot Homes) awesome and Michelle a sweetheart.

“We wish there were more places like this,” Joe said.