Rev. John W. Gentleman

Born in Lynn, Fr. Jack was the son of the late John A. and Marilyn M. (Clancy) Gentleman. He attended St. Pius V Grammar School and was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School. He later attended and graduated from Salem State University. He entered St. John’s Seminary in 1981 and was ordained a priest by Cardinal Bernard Law on June 20, 1987. He was first assigned to St. Andrew Church in Billerica, where he was Chaplain of the Fr. Wren Council #3963 Knights of Columbus. He was transferred to St. John the Evangelist Church in Chelmsford in 1992 and in May of 2000, was assigned to Holy Family Parish in Amesbury as part of the Team Ministry. In November of 2009, Fr. Jack was appointed Administrator of St. John the Baptist Church in Essex and Sacred Heart Church in Manchester by the Sea and was named the Pastor on February 1, 2010.

He leaves one brother, Timothy C. Gentleman of Lynn. He is also survived by several cousins, including Marjorie “Peggy” Hicks.

A Rite of Reception for Fr. Jack will be held on Thursday at St. John the Baptist Church, 52 Main St. Essex at 3:00PM. He will then lie in state until 7:00PM followed by a Parish Mass at 7:00PM. On Friday, A Rite of Reception will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 62 School St. Manchester by the Sea at 3:00PM. He will then lie in state until 7:00PM. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 11:00AM in Sacred Heart Church, Manchester by the Sea. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend all services. Private burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Lynn. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Fr. Jack’s memory may be sent to The Clergy Health and Retirement Trust, 66 Brooks Dr. Braintree, MA 02184 or the American Liver Foundation New England Chapter, 188 Needham Street, Suite 240, Newton, MA 02464.