WORCESTER: John H. “Jack” McNamara, 79 of 6 Glade St., died Friday, January 16, 2009, in UMass Memorial Medical Center- University Campus, after an illness.
He leaves his wife of 57 years, Jacqueline A. “Jackie” (Shannon) McNamara; 4 sons, Michael D. McNamara and his wife Evie of Leominster, Sean P. McNamara of Dudley, Thomas F. McNamara and his wife Anne of Auburn, Peter T. McNamara and his wife Lisa of Westfield, NJ; 3 daughters, Patricia A. Szafarowicz and her husband James of Oakham, Mary C. Miller and her husband Leo of Paxton, Annmarie McNamara Ouellette and her husband Richard of Grafton; 16 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother and two sisters, Joseph McNamara, Anne McNamara and Kathleen Pickett. He was also predeceased by two grandsons, Liam Henry McNamara and Joel Isaac McNamara.
He was born and raised in Worcester, son of the late Joseph F. and Katherine A. (Murphy) McNamara, and was a life long resident of the city. He graduated from St. Peter’s High School in 1948, the Massachusetts Military Academy in 1951, and the US Army Command and Staff College in 1973.
Jack was a Lieutenant with the Worcester Fire Department, where he served the city for 20 years, retiring in 1983. He also served for 32 years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, having risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, before his retirement from military service in 1989.
He was a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, a member of the Executive Board of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Trustee of the Worcester Public Library, a member of the College Hill Civic Association and the Worcester Democratic City Committee. He was also a member and Past Commander of American Legion Post No. 5, the International Association of Firefighters Local No. 1009, the Retired Police and Firefighters Association, the Boston Gaelic Fire Brigade, the retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association, a life member of the 26th Yankee Division Veterans Association, and the Worcester County Retired Officers Association. Among his many accomplishments, Jack was also a Worcester T&G Football All-Star, and was elected to the St. Peter’s Guardian Hall of Fame ’48.
CALLING HOURS will be from 4 to 8 P.M. on MONDAY, Jan. 19, in KELLY FUNERAL HOME, 154 Lincoln St. A FUNERAL MASS will be held at 10 A.M. on TUESDAY, Jan. 20 in SACRED HEART OF JESUS CHURCH, 600 Cambridge St., followed by burial in St. John's Cemetery. The family suggests donations in memory of Jack be made to Liam’s Room, P.O. Box 461, Westfield, NJ 07090. www.liamsroom.org
Driving directions and on line book for condolence messages available at www.kellyfuneralhome.com