John J. Tobin

John J. Tobin, 90 of Abington formerly of Weymouth and Dorchester died Saturday, March 23, 2013 at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. The son of the late John and Sarah Riley Tobin, he was born in Boston on September 12, 1922. John enlisted in the Army in 1939 age 17 and became an Army Ranger at age 21. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. In 2002 he was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in the 5th Ranger battalion destroying German defense bunkers in the first waves of soldiers to hit Omaha Beach on D Day. In 2010, John received the Legion of Honor Chevalier from Henry Bertrand-Pradviel, a deputy consul of the consulate general of France. It's the highest civilian award, equivalent to the US Medal of Honor. After the war, John was a jack of all trades. He had worked at Mass General Hospital, Otis Elevators and had been a Bartender at the Weymouth Eagles for over 40 years where he was a lifetime member. He was also a lifetime member of the WWII Army Ranger Battalion Association. He is survived by his wife Ruth Fay Tobin, his children, John of CA, Gerald of Yarmouth, Michael of Weymouth and Renee Foley of Abington. He was the grandfather of Amanda Labbe of NH and Leah and Zack Foley of Abington. Step father of Teresa and Robert Quigley, Lorraine and Russ Anderson, Robert and Mindy Smith, Ruth Proctor, Michael and Susan Smith and the late Catherine Melchione. Step grandfather of 11 and step great grandfather of 2. He was the brother of the late Mary, Ann, Pauline, Ellen, and William and former husband of the late Rita Tobin. Visiting hours in the Sullivan Funeral Home, 551 Washington St., Rte 53 in HANOVER on Wednesday from 4-8 PM. Funeral on Thursday at 10 AM in St. Thecla Church, 145 Washington St., Rte 53 in No. Pembroke. Burial with Military Honors in Pembroke Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions on John's Memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. www.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the Activity fund at Harbor House Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, 11 Condito Rd, Hingham, MA 02043.