John R. Hackett

He attended school in Needham, Massachusetts, graduating from high school in 1962.

John was an avid sportsman in high school, playing ice hockey and baseball. He also had several after-school jobs, delivering the newspapers in Needham and as a caddy at the Needham Golf Club. John was gregarious and enjoyed the camaraderie of others.

After graduation, John enlisted in the US Navy. He served on several warships, most seeing action in the Vietnam War. He was on the USS Canberra, the USS Boston, and the USS Okinawa among others. John was on duty on the Okinawa, a helicopter carrier during the evacuation of Saigon in ’75, the last US action in the Vietnam War. As with so many other veterans, John did not share many of his memories of the war.

When he left the Navy, he began a long career in the Food & Beverage industry, as a chef. He worked all around the greater Boston area, including ‘Cityside’ in Fanueil Hall Market in the late 1970’s. Shortly after this time, John moved to the North Shore, where he lived and worked near to his brother Mark.

John was a life-long sports fan, loyal to his beloved Boston teams, the Red Sox, the Bruins, and the New England Patriots. He enjoyed nothing more than a game on the TV in the bar, with a cold bottle of Heineken, and the company of other fans.

John remained a bachelor, was a dutiful son to his mother in her final years, and is survived by his 3 sisters, Susan, Jeanne, and Martha; brothers, Michael, and Philip; and several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held in the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Monday, May 4 at 12PM. Burial with honors to follow in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Visitation will begin at 10AM.