Obituary of John H. "Jack" Walsh

John H. “Jack” Walsh, 84, husband of Genevieve M. “Gen” (Manning) Walsh with whom he celebrated 60 years of marriage on June 11th, died on Friday, November 13, 2009 surrounded by his family at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill. Jack was born in Salem, December 11, 1924, son of the late John F. and Margaret E. (Kirrane) Walsh. He was raised in Peabody and graduated from Peabody High School Class of 1942 and was a lifelong resident of the city. While attending High School he worked at the Kennedy Butter & Egg Store in Salem and then at the Boston Naval Shipyard prior to his enlistment into the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He was honorably discharged as a Flight Officer from the AAF on January 8, 1946. Following WW II, Jack received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston College in 1950 and a Master in Education from Boston University in 1953. While attending college he was employed during the summer at A.C. Lawrence Leather Co. in Peabody. Jack began his teaching career in 1953 in East Boston where he taught 6 grade students. From 1956 to 1960 he taught at the Brown and South Schools in Peabody. In 1960, he was appointed Principal of the Wallis School and then Assistant Principal at Peabody High School until 1974. He was then named Coordinator of Instruction for the Peabody Public School K – 12 program. That position he held until his retirement in 1987 completing a 37-year tenure as a well-respected educator. Jack will also be remembered as a lector and CCD instructor to the St Adelaide’s Church parishioners’ children. Being always active, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, golfing, oil painting, photography, traveling and doing his yard work. In addition to his wife of 60 years, Jack his survived by his 4 sons and their spouses, J. Jeffrey and Lynda Walsh of Beverly, David M. and Susan Walsh of Danvers, James P. Walsh of Gloucester, and Michael W. and Paula Walsh of Woburn; his grandchildren, Matthew and Laura Walsh of Charlestown, Patrick Walsh of Danvers, Kayley, Shawna, Brianna and Michael Walsh all of Woburn; many nieces and nephews. His sisters Patricia and Catherine Walsh predeceased him. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St, (downtown location) Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Adelaide Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Monday, November 16, 2009 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the 20 Church St. funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Lahey Clinic Medical Center North, C/O Development Office for cancer research, 1 Essex Center Dr., Peabody MA 01960. Burial in St. Mary’s cemetery, Salem.