John E. "Jack" Reardon

OBITUARY - written by Jack Reardon, Jr.:

John E. "Jack" Reardon, a native of Norwood, died peacefully at Newton Wellesley Hospital with his family by his side.

He graduated from Norwood High School, class of 1953, where he excelled as a student. Tall and lanky, he was a natural on the basketball court; suave and good-looking, he was a natural leading man for school plays.

Dad attended Northeastern University where he earned a degree in civil engineering and participated in the University’s Co-Op program. He worked hard to put himself through school. He taught his children the value of an honest day’s work; and how education can open many doors in life, even if (and when) others close.

He met Lucy Marie Martellini, a Montreal native. They married in 1958 and settled in Norwood, where they raised three children. Dad worked in his father’s construction company, L.J. Reardon Co., (which our grandfather started during the depths of the Great Depression). He worked at the company in partnership with his younger brother Paul until his retirement. Dad was well-liked by his colleagues for his honest work ethic and for his affability—he was always quick with an infectious smile. He took time out from his busy schedule to build our wonderful home on Nottingham Drive in Norwood where we grew up.

He was in good physical shape and a skilled tennis player (no match for me). He was also an avid fan of Boston sports. We had season tickets to the New England Patriots and never missed a game, rain or shine; and this was back in the 1970s, when wins were few and far between. He also enjoyed his beloved Red Sox. I remember vividly watching the last game of the 1967 baseball season with my father; when the Red Sox beat the Twins, and with the help of a Tigers’ loss, clinched the American League pennant. As a seven-year-old, I experienced for the first time the joyous camaraderie of watching Boston sports with family. Of course, Dad also enjoyed watching our own football, basketball, and baseball games.

A man of many talents, he had his own pilot’s license; and was a skilled piano player.

Dad was a dedicated family man who enjoyed family projects, whether driving to Florida for spring vacation, or building a family cabin on Lake Winnipesaukee. The cabin has such fond memories for us all: swimming, boating, and waterskiing in the summer, and skiing at Gunstock Mountain in the winter.

He was proud of his children and what we have accomplished; and we are so thankful for his love and caregiving. He provided his children a good role model as a parent, father, family man, and as a human being. His presence made the world a better place, and we are glad to follow in his footsteps.

He is preceded in death by his parents Doris and Lester; his younger brother Steve; his son Bobby; his nephews, Greg, Stevie, and Richard. He is survived by his brother Paul; his sons Jack, Dave and his wife MaryBeth; his grandchildren, Meaghan, Delaney and her husband Gus, Calleigh, Elizabeth, Patrick and his wife Chandler, Samantha and her husband James, and Joe and his wife Juliana; and his great-grandchildren, Lila, Lana, and Roman.

The family thanks the wonderful doctors, nurses, and staff at Brigham & Women’s, Spaulding Rehab, and Newton Wellesley. Thanks for everything you have done.

John was a wonderful man who will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Dad, may you rest in peace.

OBITUARY - written by David Reardon:

John “Jack” Edward Reardon of Norwood, devoted husband of Lucy M. Reardon, loving brother of Paul and the late Steven, and father of John E. Jr, David A. and the late Robert J., passed away on June 17, 2024.

Born to Lester and Doris Reardon in Norwood on April 12, 1935, Jack graduated from the Civil Engineering program at Northeastern University and served in the United States Marine Corps. With his dad and brother Paul, he co-managed L.J. Reardon, Construction Company during his professional career. More important than the multitude of impressive structures he designed and built during his career, what always meant most were the relationships he built throughout the community.

His most treasured times were with his family, including skiing the icy/rocky slopes of Gunstock, ballroom dancing with Lucy, work-break tennis matches with Paul, endless weekend warrior projects with his 3 “laborers” on the cottage in Meredith, hanging by the pool with buddies at the Boca condo, and grilling off the back deck at their home in Narragansett. Amongst his greatest treasures were his seven grandchildren Meaghan, Joe, Samantha, Delaney, Calleigh, Lizzy and Patrick and his three great-grandchildren Lana Kay, Lila and Roman.

From the outside, he may have appeared somewhat complex or even an intimidating person. Given his technical background, his formidable knowledge and extensive experience, he was able to put together all the hundreds of pieces to generate a highly efficient and aesthetically pleasing workplace from a hole in the ground, and he did this many, many, many times. He readily handled complex real estate properties and even more challenging rentors. His astute business savviness allowed him to shift and tweak myriad business and investment opportunities to optimize their potential and value.

But in reality, he was a pretty simple person. He was a person of action rather than of words, but when he did speak, he said what was on his mind. He was also a people person and loved socializing and interacting with people he connected with, which was almost anyone and everyone. Holidays at our home were some of the best of these times, that he genuinely loved. On these occasions, we typically spent a lazy afternoon/evening with a couple of glasses of wine or G&T, being in the moment with his family and loved ones. Even though he did not travel as he craved, he also loved learning about people and their way of life in other places along with their cultures and histories.

Another defining feature of his simplicity was that he was predictable. He lived the core values entrained in him by his Dad Lester and Mother Doris, including honesty, integrity, hard work, follow-through and commitment. In turn, he entrained these values on to his sons.

The most important aspects of my Dad’s remarkable legacy are his joy of being a people person, his devotion to those he loved, and his values. He achieved much and taught us more, not so much verbally, but by his example. Thank you Dad for all you did for me and our family. You will always be with us, and you will always be loved. DAR

SERVICE DETAILS:

Services from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole Street (Rt. 1A) NORWOOD on Friday June 21 at 9:30 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Timothy Church, 650 Nichols Street, Norwood at 10:30. Visiting Hours in the Funeral Home on Thursday from 4-7 PM. Interment Highland Cemetery, Norwood.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Jack's memory to The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, https://dana-farber.org/ or the School of Engineering, Northeastern University, https://coe.northeastern.edu/.