John T. Carlin, a lifelong resident of Springfield, died at Baystate Medical Center on January 28, 2024, after a short illness. He was 81.
Born June 7, 1942, to the late Catherine (Killeen) Carlin and William F. Carlin, Jr., he was the third of five children. John graduated from Cathedral High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at American International College. He later earned a master’s in education from Westfield State University. John was a math teacher at Ludlow High School from 1965 until he retired in 2003. He was perhaps best known at LHS, however, for launching the girls’ varsity tennis team, which he coached from 1986 to 2020. Under his leadership, the team won 11 league championships and earned the Western Mass title after an undefeated season in 2019. He was inducted into the Ludlow High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. John recognized the importance of making tennis accessible to kids of all backgrounds and established a popular summer program in Ludlow offering low-cost lessons to young players. In the winter, John focused on ice hockey, refereeing at all levels from peewee through college and serving as assistant coach for the Ludlow boys’ varsity team.
John married Joan Giorgi, a fellow teacher at LHS, in June 1969. They had one daughter, Lesley. Family meant the world to John. He was a wonderful dad and grandfather, and he remained close to his siblings his entire life. John also loved animals (especially the cats he and Joan adopted over the years), good food, Boston sports, practical jokes, and his backyard garden, where he grew excellent tomatoes.
John is survived by his wife, Joan (Giorgi) Carlin, of Springfield; his daughter, Lesley Carlin McElhattan, and her husband, Josh McElhattan, of Centerville; two grandchildren, Claudia and Harry, also of Centerville; his siblings, William F. Carlin III (Jackie), of Westfield; Mary Pabis (Bob), of Parrish, Florida; Timothy J. Carlin (Pat), of East Longmeadow; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother James Carlin (Polly).
Funeral Mass: Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St., Springfield. Prior to the service, the family will receive visitors at the church from 10:00-11:00 am. Burial will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Grisé Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
John’s family has established a scholarship in his memory that will be awarded annually to a female student-athlete graduating from Ludlow High School. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to The Ciervo Foundation, P. O. Box 261, West Hyannisport, MA 02672 (please write “John T. Carlin Memorial Scholarship Fund” on the check memo line).