John B. Peverada Jr.

He was born on July 10, 1927 in Portland, Maine, the youngest of 10 children of John Sr. and Annette Dordoni Peverada. He attended Portland schools and graduated from Portland High School in 1947. He interrupted his high school career at the age of 17 to join the Navy to serve his country during WWII and fought in the Battle of Okinawa. After the war, John returned to Portland High School to graduate.

In 1948 John began a successful boxing career and was well known and remembered locally as a hard hitting south-paw. He was the State of Maine Golden Glove Middleweight champion. He made it to the final round of the United States Olympic Tryouts, losing by a decision. He then turned professional. After a successful boxing career, he continued to train and manage boxers for many years.

John retired from the Portland Fire Department and pursued additional endeavors. In 1978 he was appointed by then Governor Joseph Brennan as an Athletic Commissioner for the State of Maine. He served in that capacity for several years. He also worked for Congdon Transportation, the Computer Center, Hudson News, and USM. Never wanting to sit idle, he most recently started working part time at Enterprise Rent a Car this past fall.

John loved sports and athletic events of all kinds. Since graduating from Portland High School, he never missed the Thanksgiving football game between Portland and Deering and could be seen wearing his Portland Varsity sweater each year. He was also a regular at local high school sporting events supporting local teams. His commitment to physical fitness lasted his entire life. He ran in the Boys & Girls Club Patriots Day Race started by his brother Bart several times, the last time when he was in his seventies. Up until 2 months before his death, he went to Planet Fitness early every morning for two hours a day.

He was a member of St. Josephs Catholic Church, The Boys and Girls Club Alumni Association, The H.T. Andrews American Legion Post, The Italian Heritage Center, and the Elks Club where he enjoyed playing cards with his friends. In addition, in his retirement he traveled to Hawaii, Italy, Virginia, New York, Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Florida. He also enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren

He was predeceased in 2012 by his wife of 53 years, Dorothy Galli Peverada, his parents and siblings, Bart Peverada, Angelina McEntee, Mary Barter, Edith Lefebvre, Mena DiBiase, Anna Aceto and an infant daughter, Elizabeth Anne Peverada. He is survived by his brothers Anthony J. Peverada of Portland and Caesar L. Peverada of Hawaii. He is also survived by his three children: John Peverada, III and his wife Judy of Portland Maine; Mary Pociask and her husband Steve of Oak Hill, Virginia and Anne Danehy and her husband Kevin of Wakefield, MA along with six grandchildren, one great granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call at the Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodfords St. Portland Maine on Friday from 4 PM to 7PM. Prayers will be recited Saturday at 8:15am from the funeral home to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stevens Ave., Portland Maine. Burial will follow in New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Hospice of Southern Maine (Gosnell Hospice House), 180 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, Maine or to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Portland, 277 Cumberland Ave. Portland, ME 04101. Please visit www.jonesrichhutchins for further information and to sign John’s guestbook.