John David Abbott, 83, of Medway, died peacefully at his home on Sunday, June 2, 2024 surrounded by, Karen, his wife of 38 years, daughter, Kristen, step-sons, Todd Scott and Mark Pearlscott.
John was born on March 26, 1941 to John Lawrence Abbott and Julia Lucille (Owens) Abbott. He attended Laurel, Delaware, public schools, and was the valedictorian of the Class of 1959. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1959 – 1963, majoring in physics. An astute professor, recognizing John’s writing skills, advised him to pursue technical writing. John transferred to Northeastern University, Boston, majoring in English / Journalism, and graduated with High Honors in 1966.
John then worked on co-op at Horizon House, Dedham, Mass., as assistant editor of The Microwave Journal and solid-state design magazines, 1963-1965. The following two years, he attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, majoring in journalism and business management. He was a technical writer for a year with Honeywell Information Systems, in Waltham, MA, and then became the manager of software documentation for Data General Corp. until March of 1994. For the next seven years, John was an independent consultant for technical documentation, as well as an adjunct faculty at Northeastern University. John joined the Advisory board of the Software Technical Writing Program at Middlesex Community College from its beginning in 1981 to 2005.
John also volunteered at Milford Hospital Emergency Room. This encouraged him to enter MassBay Community College’s nursing program where he earned an Assoc. Degree in Nursing, June, 2006. He was a registered nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 2006 to 2023. John was active in many companies’ health fairs for their employees, as well as flu shot clinics and Covid vaccinations.
John was married to Bonnie Kaye Elliott from June 30, 1962 to 1984. Their children are Kristen Abbott of Nashua, NH and Michael Abbott of Woodbury, MN. Michael and wife, Lisa Repka, have two children, Simon Abbott and Eva Abbott.
John married Karen Ann (Gigous) Scott on June, 18, 1986. John's family also includes stepson Todd Scott, daughter-in-law Stephane Bee, and grandson Zachary Bee Scott, of Brooklyn, NY, and stepson Mark Pearlscott, daughter-in-law Marie Pearlscott, and grandchildren Elsa and Finnegan Pearlscott, of Shoreline, WA.
John was very active in Fisk Memorial United Methodist Church in Natick, Medway Community Church, Fairlawn Christian Reformed Church in Whitinsville, Hope Reformed Church in Millbury, and recently attended Immanuel Chapel in Upton, MA. He sang in church choirs and served as an Elder, 2010-2013.
Pastor Joshua Kitchen of Hope Reformed Church, officiated at the private burial service for immediate family on Monday, June 3rd.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Sunday, July 7, at 2PM at Immanuel Chapel in Upton, MA. Pastor Raymond Coffey will officiate.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Crowley Funeral Home in Medway (ginleyfuneralhomes.com).