John F. Killory, 85 years, died peacefully at his home after a brief illness. He was the son of the late John F. and Gertrude V. (Gloney) Killory and was a lifelong resident of Brockton. He graduated from Brockton High School in 1940 where he played shortstop on their baseball team. He attended Williston Academy where he won the batting title with a .462 average. He also played with the Taunton Lumber team, Boston Park League, American Legion team and the Cape Cod League. He was a member of the St. Patrick’s CYO baseball team in which his friend Rocky Marciano was the catcher and his father, John Sr. was the manager and captured the 1940 State Championship. He graduated from Boston College in 1947. In 1941 when BC played against BU he tied a major league record for getting three hits in one inning. In 1942 when BC played their annual game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, John got a single off Red Sox pitcher Joe Dobson. His love of baseball was his lifelong passion. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and was assigned to the Navy V12 Program at Tufts for officers training. He was commissioned a Lieutenant and assigned to various ships, ultimately to the LST 833 which carried the Marines for the invasion of Okinawa. After the Japanese surrendered he was assigned to a unit to survey the damage at Okinawa, Japan and the Philippines. After the war he returned to Boston College and later attended BC graduate school. He retired from Lechmere Corporate Offices in 1987 and then spent every day with his grandsons when they were young. He treasured each moment with them. An avid fan of Notre Dame since childhood, he and his family attended many football games in South Bend, Indiana.
A lover of books, he possessed a vast collection of sport, movie, WWII, political and biographies. He was a collector of many films of the bygone years. He was a member of the American Legion and a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Besides his wife of 53 years, Adele (Giudici) he is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Mary and Richard Walker of West Roxbury and Ann and Erick MaczPacay of Brockton and two grandsons, Michael and Kevin Walker.
Funeral from the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton Wednesday at 10am. Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, at 11am. Burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visiting Hours Tuesday 3-6pm. Donations in John’s name may be made to Hospice of Greater Brockton, 500 Belmont Street, Brockton, MA 02301.