WAYLAND: John Turchinetz, 88, died on Saturday, December 22, 2012 following a brief illness.
He was born in Boston on September 3, 1924 the son of the late Eugene Turchinetz and Victoria (Skryzinski) Turchinetz.
He was the beloved husband for 60 years of the late Helen May (Patriquin) Turchinetz who died on September 19, 2011.
He is survived by his loving son Jay J. Turchinetz and his wife Beverly of Chelmsford. Cherished grandfather of Paul J. Turchinetz and Michael N. Turchinetz both of Chelmsford.
John spent his formative years in the West End of Boston and graduated from Boston Trade School. He has been a resident of Wayland for the last 52 years and formerly resided in Brighton. He served his country proudly and with honor during World War II as a Seaman First Class with the United States Navy serving in every major conflict in the South Pacific (New Guinea, the Philippines, Guam, Okinawa and Iwo Jima) earning two Silver Stars and Four Bronze Medals. John received his BS in Engineering from Northeastern University and his MBA from Babson College. He has a long and distinguished career as the Configuration Manager for Raytheon in Bedford and Tewksbury with the Patriots Missile Division with over 30 years of service.
John served as the Veterans Agent for the Town of Wayland since 1999 and retired from that position in June of 2012. He was instrumental in organizing a Veterans Health and Information Fair for all veterans, he served on the Public Ceremonies Committee, the committee for the Veterans Memorial at the town building and the completion of the Book of Remembrance in which Wayland family members have submitted stories from their service life. He was also associated with the implementation of the annual Freedom Prize awarded to a high school student for an essay on the freedoms enjoyed in the United States. He was awarded the Points of Light from former Governor Mitt Romney in May of 2004. John spent countless hours assisting all veterans not only in Wayland, but in surrounding communities who needed help. He had a strong work ethic and was also a man with a devotion to his faith and lived by it each day.
John was a member of the VFW Alward Post 6260 of Wayland, a member of the Committee of the U.S.S. Boston and always kept in contact with his former Navy shipmates. John also was a volunteer with the Council on Aging.
In his earlier years he and his wife Helen enjoyed traveling and mountain climbing. He also loved to visit the bake shop at the Wayside Inn where everyone knew him. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather and a fixture within the Town of Wayland where he was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Visitations will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00 in the Bryant Memorial Chapel of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Rd (Off Rte 30), Wayland,
His funeral services will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the Westgate Church, 100 Winter St., Weston. Interment will follow in the Turchinetz family lot in North Cemetery in Wayland.
In lieu of flowers his family suggests memorial gifts in John’s memory may be sent to the Disabled American Veteran’s, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or to Gideon’s International, 6 Mt. Vernon St, Nashua, NH 03064.
For on-line condolences and directions please visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com.