Reverend Deacon John Joseph Emmert, Sr, 74, of Sagamore Beach passed away unexpectedly March 2, 2023. His family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death.
John was born in Dorchester to Leo and Bridget Emmert, he of Pennsylvania and she of Galway, Ireland. After his father died when John was 14, he augmented his mother’s housekeeping salary working at a fruit stand while attending Catholic Memorial High School.
He attended business programs at Boston University and Northeastern University but found his true calling at the doors of some of Boston’s finest hotels.
John was the always-friendly, ever-helpful, endlessly-patient doorman at the Statler Hilton Hotel from 1966 to 1971, at the Colonnade Hotel from 1971 to 1991 and the Four Seasons Hotel from 1991 to 2017. From then to the day he died, he was the enthusiastic residential concierge of 68 Beacon Street.
From age 20 to 74, John took few trips himself because the world passed through his doors. Saudi royalty, Presidents, Hollywood actors, rock bands, sports stars, and the visiting family from out of state were all greeted with the same smile and caring nature. Traits that led Where Magazine to name him “Goodwill Ambassador of Boston” in 1996.
He was as generous with his coworkers as he was with his guests, always the man to count on to swap a shift or stay on to the end of an event, for a lunch recommendation or a random act of kindness. “Everyone who knew him, loved him,” his children said.
He was a man of joy. He was a man of faith. His second calling was as Deacon in the Diocese of Fall River. Ordained in 1993, he served Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich with pride and humility, officiating at baptisms and weddings, wakes and funerals, and delivering insightful homilies during mass. He believed officiating at both of his children’s weddings and all his grandchildren’s baptisms were the most important achievements of his life.
John loved the nooks and crannies of Boston and the beaches of Cape Cod. An airport pick-up often became a detour through some favorite part of town to point out a new restaurant or spot to visit.
John is survived and missed by his wife of 55 years, Susan (Thibeault) Emmert; daughter Cari Tosh and her husband Andrew of Austin, TX, son John Emmert, Jr, and his wife Yenisei of Medford, MA; grandchildren: Kyle Anderson, Chloe Tosh, Sarah Emmert and Leo Emmert; and his beloved brother, Raymond Emmert of West Roxbury, MA, as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends and colleagues.
John’s funeral mass will be held at Corpus Christi Parish, 324 Quaker Meeting House Rd, East Sandwich, MA on March 14th at 11 AM. Family and friends are invited to a reception in the parish center to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Servants of Christ Ministries, 87A Maple Street, Scituate, MA 02066.