John P. Lennon

Waltham – Mr. John P. 'Jack' Lennon, of Waltham, died Monday, July 16, 2012 in the E.N. Rogers Veteran's Administration Hospital in Bedford. He was 80.

Jack was born in Brighton on September 1, 1931, a son of the late Laurence and Mary Ellen (Cruise) Lennon. He was raised in Brighton where he graduated from Saint Columbkille High School.

Following high school he joined the United States Army where he served with the 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War. After the war he went to school at Suffolk University in Boston earning a degree in education. On June 28, 1958 he married his sweetheart, Helen C. Mitchell, an Arlington native, at Saint Agnes Church in Arlington. The couple soon moved to Brockton and Jack got his first teaching job with the Rockland school system.

In 1963 he transferred to the Arlington schools where Jack taught at the high school and became the first administrator of the Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP). The program provided flexible temporary employment to enable students to earn a salary while continuing their studies. Through the STEP program Jacked helped hundreds of students, many of whom affectionately called him 'Lenny', get a leg up on life and on a path to a brighter future. He led the Arlington program for thirty-two years before retiring in 1995.

After that Jack continued working in a similar capacity by helping kids as the truant officer for Belmont High School and at the Cambridge District Court. For over 30 years he also administered the Saturday civil service exams in Fall River.

A Waltham resident for the past forty-nine years he was a member of Saint Luke's Parish in Belmont and the General Gavin Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. He also belonged to the Arlington and the Massachusetts Teachers Associations.

In addition to his wife of 54 years, Helen, he leaves his children, John P. 'Shawn' Lennon, Jr., and his wife, Cynthia, of Cooper City, Florida, Maura J. Lennon of Roslindale, Kieran F. 'Kerry' Lennon and his wife, Kim, of Dracut and Martin E. Lennon of Waltham; his grandchildren, Daniel, Brandon, and Jared Lennon and Devin, Cameron, and Aidan Richer; his great-grandchildren, Connor and Jacob Lennon; his son-in-law Steven Richer of Millbury; his sister, Anne Lennon of Brighton and many nieces and nephews.

Jack was also the father of the late Lawrence Lennon and Colleen M. Richer; grandfather of the late Kathleen Lennon and the brother of the late Rev. Lawrence Lennon.

Family and friends will honor and remember Jack's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday July 20th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Luke's Church, 132 Lexington Street, Belmont, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington.

The wake vigil service for Jack will be held on Friday evening beginning at 7 p.m. and will conclude with a period for memory sharing.

Memorial donations may be made to WJIB Radio, 443 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138; Compassionate Care ALS, P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574 or to Catholic TV, PO Box 9196, 34 Chestnut Street, Watertown MA 02471.