John F. Welch

John was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, MA, class of 1946. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Charles S. Sperry DD697 from 1946-1948 and was a World War II veteran. He attended Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston and the University of Massachusetts (Lowell), earning his engineering degree in 1969. He was a licensed professional engineer and a 30-year employee of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, initially serving as a Project Engineer in the Bureau of Building Construction and Division of Capital Planning and Operations, progressing to Project Manager, then Deputy Director and ultimately to Chief Construction Engineer. After a brief retirement he went back to work as a Public Assistance Coordinator and Project Officer for 18 years with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where he travelled frequently throughout the United States to assist local communities in the aftermath of natural disasters.

John was an avid Boston sports fan, rooting for the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins, through good times and bad. He served as a coach and manager in the West Peabody Little League and Babe Ruth League, and coached girls softball for many years. He bowled with Suntaug Bowling League and was a member of the Lynn Knights of Columbus. Throughout his life John maintained a deep connection to St. Mary’s High School, organizing many of the class of 1946 reunions and establishing a scholarship fund in honor of his late wife, Mary. He was a long-time communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church of Lynnfield.

John was a loving husband and devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather to an ever-expanding family. He was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Mary T. (Parks) Welch. He was the brother of the late William J. Welch Jr. of Derby, CT, the late Katherine Hunt of Foster City, CA and the late Eileen Gauthier of Lynn, MA. He leaves two sons, John P. Welch (Sally) of Rye, NH and William M. Welch (Jodi) of Falmouth, ME, three daughters, Mary Ellen Rogers (Cameron) of Bradford, MA, Martha A. Hass (David) of Wynantskill, NY and Carol Amoroso (Patrick) of Yarmouth, ME, 16 grandchildren, Andrew Welch (Irena), Timothy Welch (Lindsey), Robert Welch, Patterson Rogers (Joe), Malcolm Rogers, Kathryn Rogers, Sean Welch (Brittney), Josh Welch, Samantha Welch, Max Hass, Lucas Hass, Alex Hass, Louis Waxman, Hannah Waxman (Matt), Sam Waxman, and David Waxman, and 3 great-grandchildren, Maggie, Ellie and Brian.

Calling hours will be held Friday, January 28, 2022 from 4:00-7:00pm at the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street, Lynn, MA. A funeral mass will be held at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Lynnfield, MA on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 10:00am. Graveside service will follow at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary T. Parks-Welch Scholarship Fund at St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, either online at https://www.stmaryslynn.com/give; or by contacting the St. Mary’s Development Office at (781) 595-7885. For more information or to register in the online guestbook, please visit www.cuffemcginn.com.