John A. Mylotte

John Arnold Mylotte, age 77, from Southborough, MA died September 22, 2019 after many years of poor health. John was born August 26, 1942 in Philadelphia. He graduated from Villanova University, received his Master’s degree from Lehigh University, a law degree from Suffolk University and a certificate in technical writing at MIT.

He was Director of Technical Publications and Public Affairs for the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility in Natick, MA and taught technical writing at Northeastern University. John received numerous awards for his proficiency in technical writing including Command History Award/US Navy History in 1981, the US Navy Department Outstanding Performance Awards from 1980 to 1985, and as its associate editor, awards of excellence and best in show for the Boston Chapter Newsletter of the Society for Technical Communication. He also authored “Guide to Writing the Formal Technical Report” and “The Art of Technical Writing.”

In recent years, John focused on writing humorous poetry and created over 600 poems. He frequently did readings at the Worcester County Poetry Society, Longfellow Poetry Society, Wayland Poetry Society, and on the Hopkinton Access Cable show “Wake Up and Smell the Poetry.” He loved Sherlock Holmes and wrote clever short stories based on the Sherlock character. In 1998, he won the Sherlock Holmes Award for Best Mystery Story of the Year.

John enjoyed his travels to England, France, China, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Canada and many areas of the United States. Also, he always made his annual trip to Boothbay Harbor, Maine for several days of boat trips and lobster. He also enjoyed attending theater, concerts, and museums, eating foods from many cuisines, regularly visiting Tower Hill Botanical Garden, and watching college basketball, the Red Sox and the Patriots. He had the amazing ability to name the tune and the performer after hearing just the first two bars of music from the 40’s to the 80’s.

Between 1975 and 1978, John was a Framingham Town meeting member and Big Brother Big Sister Framingham board member. He was President of the Big Brother Big Sister Board between 1977 and 1978.

He is survived by his beloved Eva Benda, with whom he shared his life since 1997, her two granddaughters Natasha and Elyssa, and their mother Lucy, and Eva’s sister and brother-in-law Laurette and Bill Shrage. He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas Joseph and Pauline Ellen, his sister Pauline and her husband Paul, his brother Thomas, his closest friend Frank, and his faithful companion for 17 years, his bichon Puff.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 26 Vernon St., Framingham on Saturday, October 12 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, gifts in John’s memory may be made to First Parish in Framingham or to a charity of your choice.