John E. Cronin

Waltham – Mr. John E. Cronin, of Waltham, died Monday, September 14, 2009 at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton. He was 88. John was born in Waltham on August 31, 1921, a son of the late Dennis and Mary (Hourihan) Cronin, and had been a lifelong resident. During World War II he served with the United States Navy. After the war, he pursued his education at Boston University where he earned a B.S. and Masters Degree in Education. He also received a Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies from B.U. A lifelong educator, John joined the Waltham School Department where he spent more than a forty year career. He taught at the MacArthur Elementary School since its opening and spent the last thirty-six years of his career there as principal, until retiring in 1992. He and his wife and their five children became enthusiastic campers, going across country multiple times, including a trip to Jerome, Arizona where John's father worked as a copper miner before moving the family to Waltham. After retirement, he and his wife continued to travel with family and friends across the country and in Europe. John was the devoted husband of Hazel L. Cronin and the loving father of Margaret C. Wilson and her husband, Stephen, of Shirley, Waltham Police Sergeant John E. Cronin, Jr. and his wife, Joan, of Burlington, Thomas E. Cronin of Brunswick, Georgia, Anne L. Campbell and her husband, James, of Northborough and Jeanne E. Cronin of Waltham. He was also the proud grandfather of John E. Cronin, III, Daniel A. Cronin, Kathleen Cronin, Jenna Cronin and Grace Campbell and the step-grandfather of Michael, Stephen and Matthew Campbell. He also leaves many loving nieces and nephews. He was also a brother of the late Dennis Cronin, Mary Cronin, Margaret Welch, Francis Cronin, Nora Buckett, Catherine Young, Helen Bradley and Elizabeth Cronin. Family and friends will honor and remember John's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 10 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham Memorial donations may be made to the John E. Cronin Scholarship Fund, c/o John Graceffa, Waltham High School, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA 02452.