John D. Pereira

He was born on March 4, 1942 in Newport News, Virginia to Gabriel S. and Grace (Smith) Pereira. He was raised in Hampton, Virginia and graduated from Hampton High School in 1960.

Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and proudly served our country for 28 years. He served in all four divisions of the Marine Corps and loved being in the infantry for all but two years. During those two years, he was a snare drummer with the 2nd Marine Division Drum and Bugle Corps. He served two tours in Vietnam and has received numerous personal, combat, unit and campaign awards and medals including the Bronze Star with Combat V. He was commissioned before his second tour in Vietnam and retired as a First Lieutenant but chose to wear his First Sergeant enlisted rank.

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, he became a Naval Science Instructor with the NJROTC Unit at Manchester West High School for 14 ½ years, retiring in June 2010.

One of his favorite past times was playing as a drummer with the Freese Brother’s Big Band for 18 years.

He was a loving husband, Dad and Granddaddy who will be missed greatly.

Family members include his wife of 44 years, Patricia (Crabtree) Pereira of Concord, N.H., two sons, Douglas J. Pereira and his wife Laurie of Hampton, VA, James A. Pereira and his wife, Stacie, of Parker, CO, and a daughter, Teri Lynn Lewis and her husband, Jason, of Winterport, ME. He loved and doted on his seven grandchildren, Emma and Sophia Pereira of Hampton, VA, Cameron and Gianna Pereira of Parker, CO, and Kyle, Grace and Cooper Lewis of Winterport, Maine. He also left behind a sister, June Shoesmith of Fairport, NY, and a brother, Gabriel Pereira and his wife Joyce of Hampton, VA. In addition, he also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

What he cherished most in life was his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One of his favorite verses in the Bible was John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Calling hours are 5:00-8:00pm on Thursday, May 5 at the Bennett Funeral Home, 3 Church Street (the Brick Building), Concord, NH 03301.

A funeral service will be held Friday, May 6 at 10:00am at Epsom Bible Church, 398 Black Hall Road, Epsom, NH. Burial will follow at 1:30PM at the New Hampshire Veteran’s Cemetery in Boscawen, NH.

Memorial donations may be made to the Manchester West High School NJROTC, ATTN CDR Edward J. Hafner, 9 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester, NH 03102.