James J. Attarian Jr.
...retired from U.S. Postal Service; 76
TEWKSBURY - James J. Attarian Jr., age 76, a veteran of WW2 and retired USPS technician,
died Thursday evening, Jan. 27, at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burling following a brief
illness. He was the beloved companion for the past 25 years of Laura Pentz of Tewksbury.
He was born in Somerville, Jan. 28, 1928, a son of the late James J. and Dorothy (Bigelow)
Attarian. He was raised in Cambridge, and lived in Wilmington for many years before moving to
Tewksbury 25 years ago.
During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy, and according to his family, was aboard the USS John
Paul Jones when it was struck by a Japanese Kamikaze aircraft, sinking the ship. Mr. Attarian
received a Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained in the incident.
He worked for the United States Postal Service as a machinery technician at the Haverhill facility,
where he retired after 10 of service years in 1990.
He was active in the Fr. Coppen’s Council 4336 in Tewksbury, the Wilmington V.F.W. and the
Wilmington American Legion.
Mr. Attarian was an avid fisherman.
Besides his companion, he is survived by two sons and three daughters-in-law, Marc Attarian and
his wife Carole (Phinney) of West Ossipee, NH, Scott Attarian and his wife Veronica (Warren) of
Salem, NH, and Patricia (Wheeler) Attarian of Salisbury; seven grandchildren, James R. Attarian
Jr. of Rowley, Jennifer Attarian of Salisbury, Jack Gallagher and Jenece Attarian both of
Wakefield, Matthew Attarian of W. Ossipee, NH, Joshua and Jacob Attarian both of Salem, NH;
a great grandson, Jamie Attarian; five step-children, Henry “Eddie” Doucette and Laura M.
Doucette both of Tewksbury, Laurence Doucette of Wilmington, Eugene “Jackie” Doucette of
TX, Roberta Kondry of Danville, NH; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also father of the late James R. Attarian.
His funeral was held Tuesday, Feb. 1, in
the funeral home. Interment with Navy Honors followed in Our Lady of the Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers.