John J. Kerr

Waltham – Mr. John J. Kerr, of Waltham, died, Wednesday, April 10, 2013 in his home. He was 91.

John was born in Boston on May 31, 1921, a son of the late Stephen and Catherine (O'Hara) Kerr, both natives of Ireland. He attended Mission Grammar School and High School in Roxbury, graduating in 1938. After that he earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.

During World War II John served with the United States Army Air Corps and after the war he went back to school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1949 he was awarded a master's degree in mechanical engineering. After that he went to work for the Sylvania Company for a number of years before becoming a senior engineer at defense contractor EG&G, formerly known as Edgerton, Germeshausen & Grier, Inc., a position he held until his retirement in 1985.

On September 4, 1957 he married Sarah M. 'Sally' Mellett at Saint Theresa's Church in West Roxbury and the couple settled in Waltham to raise their family and where they have been residents since. John and Sally planted deep roots in the community where they both became active in the lives of their children and in their parish.

John was a member of the Holy Name Society at Saint Jude's Church where he was also a key participant in the effort to raise money to build the parish school in the early 1960's. He was also a longtime Scout Master and committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 250 in Waltham and coached baseball with the Warrendale Little League.

In addition to his beloved wife of fifty-six years, Sally, John leaves his children, John J. Kerr, Jr., and his wife, Elaine, of Chelmsford and Marie T. Mastaj and her husband, Joseph, of Milford; his grandchildren, Ashley, Brianne and Erin Mastaj and Evan and Brandon Kerr and many nieces and nephews in America, Ireland and England.

John and Sally's oldest child, Richard Stephen Kerr, died in infancy.

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 Monday, April 15th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Memorial donations may be made to Catholic T.V., P.O. Box 9196, Watertown, MA 02471 or to Saint Jude Parish, 147 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02453.